RACHEL ALEJANDRO AT RAYMOND BAGATSING
NAG-AUDITION pala sina Raymond Bagatsing at Rachel Alejandro para sa award-winning historical film na “Quezon’s Game”.
Si Raymond ang nagbigay-buhay sa karakter ni Manuel Luis Quezon habang si Rachel naman ang gumanap na asawa niya sa kuwento bilang si Aurora.
Ipakikita sa “Quezon’s Game” ang isang napakahalagang chapter sa buhay ng dating Presidente ng Pilipinas, na hindi raw natin mababasa sa mga history books. Ito ay joint venture ng Star Cinema, ABS-CBN’s steaming service iWant at international film company na Kinetek Productions.
Set in 1938, habang nakaamba ang giyera kontra Hitler, mapapanood sa pelikula si Pres. Quezon collaborating with future U.S. Pres. Dwight Eisenhower and other notable personalities in politics para sagipin ang libu-libong Jewish refugees mula sa ghettos ng Austria at Germany para maiwasan ang Holocaust.
“I auditioned for the role and after I was informed that they’re getting me, I researched on Pres. Quezon, read books about him and watched, studied his speeches that are available on YouTube, observing him and absorbing him,” kuwento ni Raymond sa ginanap na presscon ng “Quezon’s Game” kamakailan.
Dagdag pa ng aktor, “I had about a month to prepare before shooting started. Quezon is a very lively speaker, he really gives his heart and his whole body when he speaks. He smiles, he jokes. No doubt he’s a great man, but we also showed that he loves to drink scotch, he’s a good poker player, he smokes tobacco, in other words, taong-tao rin siya.
“But he really works hard and is very serious with his job as a president. I’m really thankful to be given the opportunity to portray him on the big screen,” kuwento pa ng aktor.
Ayon naman kay Rachel, “My role as President Quezon’s wife was not handed to me on a silver platter. Like Raymond, I had to audition for the part. And thank God, I got it. And filming it, proved an ultra nice experience to remember.”
“Quezon’s Game is a film inspired by the president’s open-door policy to welcome the displaced Jews, chronicles the challenges and the triumph of that political and moral undertaking,” sabi uli ni Raymond.
“This story could happen again, and I think it’s a good time to show this to remind people the horrors of what happened if you close your borders and if you don’t treat all men as equal,” pahayag pa ng award-winning actor.
Dagdag naman ni Rachel bilang si Aurora, talagang napaiyak siya habang binabasa ang script ng movie, “When people are determined to do the right thing regardless of consequences, miracles can happen.”
“It’s such a relevant thing to this day, because some countries are inward-looking now. It’s like, ‘Us first.’
There’s so much of that message going around, na parang, ‘Tayo muna, before helping others,’” aniya pa.
Naipalabas na sa iba’t ibang international film festival ang “Quezon’s Game” at umani pa ng napakaraming award, kabilang na ang best foreign film sa WorldFest Houston International Filmfest at tatlong Gold Remi Awards for best art design, best producers at best director para kay Matthew Rosen.
Binigyan din ng pagkilala (Excellence in Acting) sa Cinema Worldfest Awards sa Ottawa, Canada sina Raymond at Rachel para sa nasabing pelikula.
Pahayag naman ni Direk Matthew Rosen, “What I really want for Filipinos after seeing this film is to be proud. That was really why I made it.
“When humanity had gone, the Philippines really led the way, and they had to fight to lead the way. It’s an inspiration to the rest of the world, that a whole people can have this moral standing. That’s what I wanted to put across,” aniya pa.
Kaya kung na-miss n’yo nang makapanood ng makabuluhang pelikula, manood na ng “Quezon’s Game” simula sa May 29 nationwide.
Ka-join din sa movie ang mga international actors na sina David Bianco, Paul Holme, Billy Ray Gallion and James Paolelli, at si Audie Gemora as Vice Pres. Sergio Osmeña.