Since 1998, this young filmmaker had already done three films – with all three excellently-made.
His first film, Sana Pagibig Na, is a domestic drama about a young man (Gerald Madrid) who sees through the pregnancy of his father’s mistress (Angel Aquino). It may have bombed at the box office, but it was nominated for best picture in all the awards derbies that year and won additional best actress trophies for Nida Blanca for playing a housewife whose illusion about her marriage is shattered when she finds out that her deceased husband (Chinggoy Alonso) had not really been all that faithful to her.
In 1999, Jeturian released his second movie, Pila-Balde, which is basically a study of life in the depressed areas. Since this film contains sex and nudity, it fared a lot better than Sana Pagibig Na at the box office. At the Urian Awards of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, it was this close to winning best picture, but was eventually edged out in the end by Mike de Leon’s Bayaning Third World.
Jeffrey Jeturian’s third film, Tuhog, is his most daring – in terms of execution.
Tuhog is about a father (radio/TV talent Nante Montreal) who screws his daughter (stage actress Irma Adlawan) and later rapes his daughter’s daughter (Ina Raymundo). When the crime is reported to the police, it is played up by media and is picked up as a material for film.
And so we see at this point another film unfold before our eyes – the dramatization of the true-to-life tragedy of mother and daughter. Tuhog now becomes a two-in-one movie. (The closest similarity I can think of here is Meryl Streep’s The French Lieutenant’s Woman – though still not quite.) Packaged as a sex film, the second movie is entitled Hayok sa Laman. In the role of the rapist father/grandfather is Dante Rivero. Irma Adlawan’s part goes to Jaclyn Jose, while Ina Raymundo becomes Klaudia Koronel in the movie.
With scenes from the "film" alternately shown with what happened in "real life," we get a clear picture of how things are always magnified for the big screen – how even simple chores like bathing in the river have to be overly dramatized for cinematic effect.
Tuhog is actually a dig at the business of making films and practically bites the hand that feeds it. But no one in the movie industry should take offense because it is really a harmless exercise at poking fun at the art of filmmaking.
Besides, this film is so beautifully made, industry members should just be thankful that a filmmaker like Jeffrey Jeturian still has the energy to squeeze out his creative juices in spite of the ongoing slump in the entertainment field. (It has been rewarded with a B rating by the Film Ratings Board.)
My only worry about Tuhog is how local moviegoers – so used to the linear unfolding of scenes on the big screen – will take to this film. It is actually one big experiment that could explode on Jeturian’s face once the public snubs it at the box office.
And it’s not only the film’s unconventional form and style which could alienate moviegoers. Even the theme of incest may be offensive to most viewers.
But I hope and pray everyone would be mature enough to be able to appreciate this film. It is excellently-crafted and it’s not every day – not even every year – that we get to see a film this wonderful.
Equally excellent are the technical aspects of Tuhog – particularly the cinematography which is done by three people: Boy Yniguez, Shane Clemente and Sherman So.
The music of Jay Durias is also worth citing. It parodies in the most humorous manner the music scores used in most sex films.
The other technical elements of the film (ending by Ron Dale, production design by Ron Heritan and sound by Ross Diaz and Rick Loresto, Jr.) are also done with utmost care and contribute greatly to the artistic success of Tuhog.
The performances of the cast members (from Ina Raymundo down to Klaudia Koronel) are all above-average – particularly Jaclyn Jose who is so good here at playing a bad actress.
As far as I know, there is still no playdate for Tuhog. But when it gets shown, I hope it gets the support of the movie-going public.
For Tuhog is a rare cinematic gem so different from all those formula movies that are already starting to come out of our ears.