Pauwi Na

PAUWI NA (International title “Pedicacab”)                                                                                                                      (14 AUGUST 2017)

Philippine release date: August 16, 2017 (Wednesday)

Loglines/Taglines/Quotes:

·         Ito ang pamilyang Pilipino

·         Magsisimula na ang biyahe

                               

Director: Paolo Villlauna

Producer: Ellen Ramos

Executive Producer: Dr. Milagros Ong-How

Screenplay and Editing: Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos

Cinematography: Sasha Palomares

Production Design: Maoxie Mao Fadul

Sound: Andrew Milallos

Music: Paolo Villaluna, Pike and Veena Ramirez

Stars:

Bembol Roco as Mang Pepe

Cherry Pie Picache as Aling Remedios

Merryl Soriano as Isabel

Jerald Napoles as Jp

Chai Fonacier as Pina

Jess Mendoza as Jesus

Shamaine Buencamino as Doray

Jack The Dog as Kikay

Genre: Family Comedy/Drama

Synopsis 1:

Follow a pedicab driver, a thief, a laundrywoman, a dog, a blind pregnant woman and Jesus Christ – shod in basketball sneakers – as they make their way from poverty in the city to the imagined paradise of the countryside.

MTRCB Rating: R-13 (Restricted for 13 years old and above)

Running Time: 2 hours 3 minutes

Released by: Universal Harvester Inc. thru Solar Pictures

Solar Pictures is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @solarpicturesPH

Link to view TRAILER on YouTube: http://bit.ly/PauwiNaTrailer

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pauwinathemovie/

Official Hashtags: #PauwiNa #PPP2017 #PistaNgPelikulangPilipino

Synopsis 2:

Pauwi Na (PEDICAB) follows a pedicab driver, his sharp-tongued wife, their petty thief son, a blind, pregnant young woman – who happens to see Jesus Christ – and a dog named Kikay. This is the story of a family on a journey from poverty in the city to an imagined paradise in the countryside. 

Broke, desperate, and with little more than the clothes on their backs, the family decides to pedal their way thousands of miles on rickshaws in a tragicomic exodus to the green fields of the provinces.

With a powerhouse cast led by Philippine cinematic icons Bembol Roco (Manila By Night, Lino Brocka) and Cherry Pie Picache (Foster Child, Brillante Mendoza), and directed by noted Filipino filmmaker Paolo Villaluna, PEDICAB is a quirky road trip whose unapologetic look at family, class, poverty and faith “reminds one of the overriding role of art—to be a channel of critique and change.” (Manila Times, August 2016)

Synopsis 3:

Follow a pedicab driver, a thief, a laundrywoman, a dog, a blind pregnant woman and Jesus Christ – shod in basketball sneakers – as they make their way from poverty in the city to the imagined paradise of the countryside.

Inspired by a news article featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (“Family pedals way back home to Leyte,” Sept. 7, 2003), Pauwi Na (PEDICAB) follows Mang Pepe and his family as they pedal on pedicabs (cycle rickshaws) the thousands of miles from Manila to the farmlands.

The ailing Mang Pepe, his wife, Remedios, their daughter Pina, their son JP, his wife Isabel and their dog Kikay live together in a shanty in the slums. Survival is hand-to-mouth. Mang Pepe drives his rusting pedicab to deliver goods to the market. Aling Remedios washes laundry for her neighbors. JP steals, Pina sells cigarettes, and Isabel, blind and soon to give birth, believes she can see and speak to Jesus Christ.

Mang Pepe convinces the family that life will be better farming in their home province. Without the money to pay for bus fare or the means to survive on the road, the family piles into a pair of pedicabs, determined pedal their way home. 

After a 7-year absence from filmmaking, noted Filipino filmmaker Paolo Villaluna returns with a quirky philosophical treatise on the Filipino family that “reminds one of the overriding role of art — to be a channel of critique and change” (Manila Times, August 2016). The film is “transformative, heartbreaking as it is inspiring” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 2016.)

With a powerhouse cast led by Philippine cinematic icons Bembol Roco (Manila By Night, Lino Brocka) and Cherry Pie Picache (Foster Child, Brillante Mendoza) PEDICAB is a road trip that becomes an unapologetic look at family, class, poverty and the role of faith in Philippine society.

Film Reviews:

"For the humanism and universality of the story, for the simplicity of the style and realization — for the non-conformism with which it represented our desire to believe that there is a sense in this universe, the award for the best film goes to Pedicab, from the Philippines.”

-Cristian Mungiu, Palme D’or Winner

“Strong social critique barbed with black humor distinguishes the Philippine drama, Pauwi Na…a big pay-off with a deeply emotional finale.”

-The Hollywood Reporter

“The film is extraordinary for the treatment of its material…It is a triumph of masterful direction further enhanced by the sheer virtuosity of its assembly of competent actors.”

-Nonoy Lauzon, Manila Times

“Mesmerizing performances. Masterful direction. This film shows us a Filipino family as we have never seen it before”

-Ricky Lee, screenwriter and playwright

“Pauwi Na is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring…even transformative. You don’t want to miss it. Pauwi Na is one of the year’s finest films. Villaluna and Ramos have yet to disappoint us and their latest is no exception.”

-Rito Asilo, Philippine Daily Inquirer

 “Rendered with powerful performances of the ensemble cast and effectively executed by the director’s precise film language.”

-Raymond Red, Cannes Palm D’or Winner

“It is the best of the festival for me…It is philosophical and lyrical. It is indeed a beautiful Filipino film to watch!

-Joel Lamangan, director

“This is a film filled with lovely moments.”

-Philbert Dy, Click the city

“Pauwi Na embraces its characters and story that it delivers a depressing, heartbreaking, confusing and fun film all at the same time and it gives some of the genuine comedic scenes in recent memory…A genuine treat”

-Nazamel Tabares, moviesinthephilippines.com

“The sense of authenticity in this film is distinct that it manages to be artful without being arty…it eventually transforms into a fascinating, emotional narrative with more layers than we might have expected. Four stars!”

-My movie world

“!”

-Engelbert Dulay, cinecritic.com

“Pauwi Na is a fulfilling journey... This is probably the most unique comedy of the year! Watch it.”

-Nood.ph

“Magical!”

-Nap Jamir, cinematographer

“Villaluna weaves in the story of hope amidst the desperation this journey the Filipino nuclear family takes. A masterclass in acting from Picache, Soriano and Roco…Pauwi Na will definitely leave you talking about it more and more after watching the film. It is quite an important film.”

-Ricci Chan, theater actor, writer and critic

Awards and Nominations:

SHANGHAI INT’L FILM FESTIVAL 2017

The Golden Goblet for Best Film, Winner

GAWAD TANGLAW 2017

Presidential Jury Award, Winner

Best Supporting Actor / Jess Mendoza

TOFARM FILM FESTIVAL 2016

Special Jury Award

Best Actor / Bembol Roco

Best Actress / Cherry Pie Picache

Best Story / Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos

Best Editing / Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos

Best Production Design / Maoxie Fadul

URIAN AWARDS 2017 Nominations

Best Director / Paolo Villaluna

Best Actor / Bembol Roco

Best Actress / Cherry Pie Picache

Best Supporting Actress / Meryll Soriano

Best Screenplay / Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos

Best Editing / Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos

Best Music / Paolo Villaluna, Pike Ramirez and Veena Ramirez

FAP LUNA AWARDS 2017 Nominations

Best Actor / Bembol Roco

Best Actress / Cherry Pie Picache

Best Actress / Meryll Soriano

Best Supporting Actor / Jerald Napoles

Best Cinematography / Sasha Palomares

"For the humanism and universality of the story, for the simplicity of the style and realization — for the non-conformism with which it represented our desire to believe that there is a sense in this universe, the award for the best film goes to Pedicab, from the Philippines.”

-Cristian Mungiu, Palme D’or Winner

“Strong social critique barbed with black humor distinguishes the Philippine drama, Pauwi Na…a big pay-off with a deeply emotional finale.”

-The Hollywood Reporter

“The film is extraordinary for the treatment of its material…It is a triumph of masterful direction further enhanced by the sheer virtuosity of its assembly of competent actors.”

-Nonoy Lauzon, Manila Times

“Mesmerizing performances. Masterful direction. This film shows us a Filipino family as we have never seen it before”

-Ricky Lee, screenwriter and playwright

“Pauwi Na is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring…even transformative. You don’t want to miss it. Pauwi Na is one of the year’s finest films. Villaluna and Ramos have yet to disappoint us and their latest is no exception.”

-Rito Asilo, Philippine Daily Inquirer

 “Rendered with powerful performances of the ensemble cast and effectively executed by the director’s precise film language.”

-Raymond Red, Cannes Palm D’or Winner

“It is the best of the festival for me…It is philosophical and lyrical. It is indeed a beautiful Filipino film to watch!

-Joel Lamangan, director

“This is a film filled with lovely moments.”

-Philbert Dy, Click the city

“Pauwi Na embraces its characters and story that it delivers a depressing, heartbreaking, confusing and fun film all at the same time and it gives some of the genuine comedic scenes in recent memory…A genuine treat”

-Nazamel Tabares, moviesinthephilippines.com

“The sense of authenticity in this film is distinct that it manages to be artful without being arty…it eventually transforms into a fascinating, emotional narrative with more layers than we might have expected. Four stars!”

-My Movie World

“!”

-Engelbert Dulay, cinecritic.com

“Pauwi Na is a fulfilling journey... This is probably the most unique comedy of the year! Watch it.”

-Nood.ph

“Magical!”

-Nap Jamir, cinematographer

“Villaluna weaves in the story of hope amidst the desperation this journey the Filipino nuclear family takes. A masterclass in acting from Picache, Soriano and Roco…Pauwi Na will definitely leave you talking about it more and more after watching the film. It is quite an important film.”

-Ricci Chan, theater actor, writer and critic