What are the secrets of Sabel?

Do traumatic events change a mature person, or are our personalities fully formed at a young age? Can an unconventional love rescue a person in the depths of despair? These are among the many intriguing questions posed by Regal Entertainment’s extraordinary new film, Sabel, which features Judy Ann Santos in her most challenging role todate. An official entry to the 2004 Manila Film Festival, Sabel also stars Wendell Ramos, Iza Calzado, Al Tantay, Rio Locsin, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Sunshine Dizon.

Sabel also marks the return of veteran film festival winners Joel Lamangan (director) and Ricky Lee (scriptwriter) to the genre where they have cemented their reputations here and abroad: the provocative drama.

The story begins with social worker Sabel (Judy Ann) making her regular visits to a city jail, where she brings hope and cheer to the inmates. After a night of Bible counseling, however, she is raped by handsome inmate Kanor (Wendell Ramos). Sabel suddenly stops visiting the prison.

Months later, Kanor is allowed to leave. With Sabel still in his mind, Kanor begins looking for her. When he finally finds her after weeks of searching, romance ensues. Sabel announces one day that she’s pregnant. But just before Kanor can propose marriage, Sabel disappears again.

The heartbroken Kanor’s loneliness is eased by the attractive Jenny (Iza Calzado), a writer he met while in jail. Kanor marries Jenny after his second search for Sabel proves futile, and they become the proud parents of a boy.

Years later, Kanor’s job as a med rep takes him to Baguio, where a newspaper reports that Sabel, now living in Benguet and using a different name, is on trial for murder. Could his former flame be capable of such a heinous crime? The more Kanor talks to Sabel and the people who know her, the more he is surprised by what she has become, and what she seems capable of.

Sabel is a new type of Filipino film, a drama which questions our notions about what a normal family is, and how little we know about people we love. It’s a unique, unpredictable drama which could only have come from artists of the caliber of writer Ricky Lee and director Joel Lamangan, and fleshed out by the most talented performers of our time. Sabel’s moving story will unfold in Manila theaters on June 23.