'Litrato's' Lola Edna is a winning role for AiAi

July 7 ------ After a handful of triumphant forays into drama in the last few years, Philippine Comedy Queen AiAi Delas Alas is set to return to the genre, which earned her international acclaim in an unexpected role via 3:16 Films' upcoming movie. "Litrato."

This highly-emotional screenplay by Ralston Jover casts AiAi as Lola Edna, a grandmother living in a home for the aged who grapples with worsening dementia. Refusing to succumb to the cognitive disease, she bullies anyone who shows pity on her and resorts to attention-seeking suicide attempts to deal with her fear and sadness.

Via Zoom this week, the beloved comedienne, who is mainly based in San Francisco these days, was bubbly as ever, animatedly talking about her preparations for the demanding role while still showing humility despite her acting caliber. In Filipino, she chatted, "I've always been drawn to challenging roles. They provide me with a wider range of experiences as an actor. But when I read the script for this film, it seemed much too challenging that I almost wasn't sure I could handle it. "But I gave it my all and knew that anything is possible through prayers. God can perform miracles," added the devout Roman Catholic.

AiAi could neither pass up the project because her good friend and multi-awarded director, Louie Ignacio, is also the big man behind "Litrato." It was direk Louie, of course, who helmed her previous drama movies, "School Service" and "Area," which respectively gave AiAi her Best Female Actor Award from New York's Queens World Film Festival in 2019 and ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) Best Actress trophy in 2017. "This is Louie we're talking about. I never hesitate when it comes to him. I hold him dear to my heart. All of my Best Actress awards have stemmed from our collaborations. So, I've poured out my heart and soul into this film for him," declared the grateful actress.

With her in the cast of "Litrato" are noted dramatic actresses Ara Mina and the veteran Lisa Lorena who are all praises for the comedienne's performance in the emotionally charged movie. "I was really shocked and impressed at what I saw the first time I saw AiAi on set at the home," Lorena shared with The Manila Times Entertainment. "I couldn't recognize her because she really transformed into the role of an old grandmother the way she moved and how she appeared. It wasn't just her face that was made to look old but even her teeth and everything else. It was just amazing."

Humbled by her co-stars' words, AiAi, besides crediting direk Louie as usual for guiding her, also said that her constant exposure to the residents of the San Francisco home for the aged, where she works part-time as activity director, was a great help. "I even based the way I cried to one of the people there," she disclosed. Eager for everyone to see her do drama again, AiAi also hopes that the movie will remind people to make time for their aging family members as they bring attention to the loneliness they experience as they suffer such difficult illnesses as dementia and near the end of their lives. A great project to come her way as she inches to her fourth decade in the industry, "Litrato" is poised to prove AiAi's gifted versatility once more and perhaps make a difference in people's lives while she's at it. Another award may even come her way once the film makes the rounds of international festivals, but as it is already, her drama homecoming is a win all around.

'Litrato' also stars Queen Carillo, Boodjie Pascua and Duane and Bodjie Pascua, among others and will hold its world premiere in the Philippines on July 26.

Source: manilatimes.net