Shot in a studio with an all-synthetic and hand-painted backdrop designed by Marc Nicdao, the film was said to be innovative with its different representation of World War 2 by centering on the psychological experience of the soldiers during the Bataan Death March.
Although there were reportedly mixed reviews about the film, Sam maintained that sharing the whole experience with other film enthusiasts across the globe is something truly memorable for him. “The fact na Cannes Film Festival is the biggest film festival of the year, to be part of this competition, it’s a huge thing. There’s also a French producer who wanted to show the film in France. Ang alam ko rin kami lang ang may three screenings. So nakaka-proud talaga,” said Sam who went straight to the promo shoot of his upcoming teleserye Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala on Wednesday, May 22.
In a separate interview with Push.com.ph, director Adolf was very happy with Sam’s performance along with his co-stars in Death March. “It’s my first time to work with Sam. He plays an American in the film. From the moment we discussed his role, he was very excited about it and I know he can deliver. Multi-charactered yung movie, it’s an ensemble. So everybody has their own storylines that intertwine with each other. Lahat sila lead characters.”
Apart from their screening, Sam further shared that he enjoyed seeing a lot of Hollywood stars during the red-carpet event in Cannes. Like a typical fan, he admitted that couldn’t help but feel awe-struck with international celebrities like Zhang Ziyi, Liam Hemsworth, and Jennifer Lawrence. “Sobrang amazing yung experience. Pagdating namin, Steven Spielberg kaharap namin, naglakad siya tapos kami naman sumunod. There was an international press, they don’t know who you are, but still, sharing that moment with A-listers like Steven Spielberg, who’s one of the greatest directors of our time, is truly unforgettable.”
In the meantime, Sam, who celebrated his birthday on the 23rd, is thrilled that Kapamilya viewers will soon see him taking on a different role in Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala. In the story, he plays a charming guy with whom Judy Ann Santos falls in love. But as soon as they get married, he turns out to be an abusive husband and a womanizer at the same time.
Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala premieres on primetime TV on June 17.