Malvarosa. 1958. Philippines. Directed by Gregorio Fernandez. Screenplay by Consuelo P. Osorio. With Charito Solis, Leroy Salvador, Rebecca del Rio. DCP. Courtesy ABS-CBN Sagip Pelikula. In Filipino; English subtitles. 101 min.
Later reunited by Mike De Leon for Kisapmata, Vic Silayan and Charito Solis star in this melodrama made at the height of their studio-era careers, with Solis playing the long-suffering daughter of a raging alcoholic (the award-winning Rebecca del Rio), who sacrifices everything for her five brothers. Miraculously, Malvarosa has survived all these years, a prestige picture produced by Mike De Leon’s father, Manuel, for LVN and based on a komiks serial by Clodualdo del Mundo, the father of screenwriter Doy del Mundo (Manila, Itim, Bayaning 3rd World).
N.B. Little survives of the film library of LVN studios, and what does survive is generally in poor condition. We nonetheless present these rare films so that New York audiences can experience them for the first time.
Please note, little survives of the film library of LVN studios, and what does survive is generally in poor condition. We nonetheless present these rare films so that New York audiences can experience them for the first time.