EXCLUSIVE: Alessandra de Rossi on Lav Diaz’s movie: ‘Huwag niyong sayangin yung pagkakataon’

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='031616-AlessandraDeRossi_PU.jpg' width='400' height='290' align='left' border='0'>After coming back from the Berlinale Film Festival in Germany with the rest of the cast of the movie<i> Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis</i> last month, Alessandra de Rossi admitted she was just as overwhelmed by the warm reception to the film which eventually brought home the prestigious Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize. <i>'Hindi na siya bago sa akin. Charot! (</i>laughs<i>). Siyempre masaya. Lahat naman halos ng ginagawa kong </i>movie <i>medyo malayo ang nararating. Hindi nga lang siyempre ganito kalaki pero lahat naman ng projects na ginagawa ko I think yun yung gusto nilang mapuntahan so hindi na ako masyado nagulat (na nanalo),</i>” she told <a href='http://Push.com.ph'>Push.com.ph</a>.</div><div><br/></div><div>The 31-year-old actress shared some her experiences in attending film festivals abroad. 'Ever since <i>naman</i>, since I was 16 years old <i>ang dami ko ng napuntahan na </i>film festivals. <i>Ang nakita ko lang na </i>difference <i>ay mas naka-</i>focus <i>sila lagi sa </i>director more than<i> sa artista. Parang wala talaga silang pakialam sa artista. Hindi sila nagtatanong. </i>Because it’s not your work of art to defend <i>di ba? </i>Director <i>gumawa nito eh. Yung artista nandiyan lang sa likod. At ganun na ganun din kami nung Berlin,</i> supporting cast. <i>Yun yung na-mi-miss ko kasi sa Pilipinas laging pag presscon tinatanong ilan </i>kissing scene<i> mo, ganyan. Hindi naman yun yung point ng </i>movie <i>eh. So ganun,”</i> she shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>Alessandra is part of the cast that also includes Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Angel Aquino, and Cherie Gil. The film is part mythological, part-fiction, and part-historical and Alessandra said her character is part of the latter category. <i>'Dito ako si </i>Sarah Belarmino<i> siya ang nag-traydor sa mga Pilipino kasi parang mistress siya ng Kapitan Heneral na Kastila. Siya yung nagsabi kung saan yung daan ng mga Pilipino kaya nagkaroon ng massacre. So hinanap nila si </i>Oriang <i>tapos sumama siya sa thirty days na paghahanap na asawa ni</i> Andres Bonifacio<i> kasi na-guilty siya,”</i> she said.</div><div><br/></div><div><a href='https://push-data.abs-cbn.com/push/archive/features/58563/5-reasons-why-you-should-watch-lav-diazs-hele-sa-hiwagang-hapis/'>READ: 5 Reasons why you should watch Lav Diaz’s ‘<i>Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis’</i></a></div><div><br/></div><div>As for<i> Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis’s</i> director Lav Diaz, Alessandra said he gave her a lot of freedom to interpret her character.<i> 'Hindi ko nga alam eh, ang kulit lang niya (</i>laughs<i>). Parang pag tatanungin mo siya, ‘Direk, ano paano mo gusto itong eksenang ito?’ Sasabihin niya, ‘Bahala ka na.’ Sabi ko, ‘Direk pag ako nagkamali dito ah! Wala akong sisisihin kundi sarili ko.’ Sabi niya, ‘Oo dahil vision mo yan eh. This is a free movie. You are free to do anything you like.’ Parang grabe yung pressure di ba? Kasi minsan pag nilalait yung acting mo puwede ko sabihin na eh kasi yun yung gusto ni direk. Ngayon sisisihin ko sarili ko lang</i> (laughs),” she admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>As the critically acclaimed film makes its commercial run in Metro Manila starting March 26, Alessandra shared why Pinoy moviegoers should not miss the opportunity to see it. 'It’s eight hours long. <i>Siyempre for historical reasons ang dami niyong matututunan sa history, meron din tayong mythology. Ang daming napagsama-sama ni </i>Lav Diaz.<i> As in eight hours ang reality, ang fiction so ang galing. Ma-e-educate kayo ng todo. Huwag niyong sayangin yung pagkakataon kasi magandang pelikula ito,</i>” she explained.</div>

Alessandra de Rossi actress shares why it’s worth watching ‘Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis’ for eight hours.

EXCLUSIVE: Alessandra de Rossi on Lav Diaz’s movie: ‘Huwag niyong sayangin yung pagkakataon’ | PUSH.COM.PH