MANILA, Philippines - Chito Roño’s Emir is a big-budget musical about Amelia, a Filipina in the Middle East, working as the nanny of a sheik. Shot mostly in Morocco and funded by the Philippine government, the film extols our overseas workers as it shows how a single Pinay can save an entire nation.
But what else makes Emir worth watching? Here is a list of reasons.
1. Chito S. Roño is one of the most respected directors of our time. Dekada ’70, Yamashita, Feng Shui, Caregiver, Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara — ‘nuff said.
2. The songs are composed by Ebe and Vin Dancel from Sugarfree and Peryodiko, Diwa de Leon and Gary Granada, while the music was performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Chino Toledo.
3. Frencheska Farr — Frencheska was cast as the film’s lead right after winning the talent show, Who’s the Next Big Star? What made producers believe she could carry a multimillion-peso project? Hers is the voice of an angel. And trust us, she delivers.
4. Dulce, whose voice is as majestic as the Filipino soul itself, harmonizes well with the soft, sweet voice of Frencheska. Dulce and Frencheska even have a duet in the film — so worth the price of a ticket.
World-Class
5. The honest camerawork of cinematographer Neil Daza (Dekada ’70, Feng Shui Ouija) complements the first-class production design of Digo Ricio (Independencia). Look out for the chandelier and the drapery of the Sheik’s villa, the Moroccan desert and select Philippine heritage sites in the film!
6. It’s real! The film was inspired by the true story of a Filipina nanny in Bahrain.
7. Ladies will swoon over leading men Jhong Hilario and Sid Lucero (Ooh… love triangle?). And the cast includes some of showbiz’s cutest kids: Joshua Hourani, Mahdi Yazdian and MYX VJ Nelsito Gomez.
Lovely ‘Yayas’
8. The yayas! Emir features an entire ensemble of them! Watch out for the number, Turistang Yayas — top-notch performances that literally take you around the world.
9. Nostalgia. There’s nothing like seeing delicacies and games from our past immortalized in cinema. This is a film we’ll be proud to show the world.
10. Emir is not only about OFWs, but also about you and me. While it is a tribute to Overseas Filipino Workers, the story of a common yaya is also the story of Filipino culture all around the world!