Why ‘2 Valid IDs’ is on track to make PH film history

MANILA, Philippines, November 3 ------ Independent movie 2 Valid IDs is on track to make Philippine film history, as it recorded P80 million at the box office, the film’s director, Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan, disclosed.

The film grossed P80 million in its first 18 days after opening in cinemas nationwide on October 14. It is expected to cross the P100-million mark this week.

2 Valid IDs was the top-grossing film in the 22nd edition of Cinemalaya last August, and Marietta Subong, more popularly known as “Pokwang,” won the festival’s Best Actress along with Ruby Ruiz (for Status: Rejected). The film also got Cinemalaya’s Audience Choice Award (full-length film category).

And since the movie will likely extend for another week considering the strong support from moviegoers, 2 Valid IDs’ success at the box office is likely to continue. “Nadagdagan pa tayo ng mga sinehan! (We’ve got additional cinemas). We are on our third week strong and still showing in 100 cinemas nationwide! Maraming maraming salamat, mga ka-#2 ValidIDs!” film outfit Super Entertainment, which has been promoting the film, posted on Sunday.

Ticket prices for 2 Valid IDs are P200 for a student/teacher; P275 for regular patrons in Metro Manila; and P230 for regular patrons in the provinces. Seniors get a 20% discount. Assuming a ticket price of P250, P80 million at the box office means that roughly 320,000 people have seen the film.

What makes 2 Valid IDs success unique is that it’s a social drama; most commercially successful indie films are love stories. 2 Valid IDs tell the story of Sylvia and her ailing farmer-husband, Ramon (played by Joey Marquez), and how red tape, corruption, and a broken health system fails a poor family.

Most cinema patrons don’t spend their hard-earned money on social realism, as movie-going is generally a form of escape. The indie movie that holds the record at the box office is the 2017 romantic comedy, Kita-Kita, starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy, the love story of two migrant workers in Japan.

Kita-Kita started with a whimper at the box office but ended with a bang as word of mouth about the movie spread. Kita-Kita earned a total of P320 million at the box office. Given a production cost of P10 million, the film gave a windfall to producers Piolo Pascual and Spring Films, and catapulted comedian Empoy’s acting career. Kita-Kita even got an Indonesian remake in 2017, Cinta Itu Buta (Love is Blind).

Unlike Kita-Kita, 2 Valid IDs is a drama that makes its viewers angry and frustrated over the Philippines’ broken hospital system and bureaucracy. The movie is more comparable to the second most successful indie film, Heneral Luna, than to Kita-Kita.

Starring John Arcilla and helmed by Jerrold Tarog, the 2015 surprise hit about the hot-tempered military general Antonio Luna during the Philippine-American war, is the country’s highest grossing historical indie film. It earned around P250 million, allowing it to break even given producer Artikulo Uno’s high budget of P240 million. The film resonated with lines that evoke patriotism, including,“Negosyo o kalayaan? Bayan o sarili? Pumili ka.” (Business or freedom? Country or self-interest? You choose.)

Source: rappler.com