'Faney': A fitting adieu to Nora Aunor

It was a personal invitation from its director Adolf Alix Jr., and of course this writer’s admiration to the Philippines’ greatest actress Nora Aunor, that made me leave my abode to troop to the cinema where the film Faney, will be shown on a Sunday that coincided with the 40th day of her death that happened last 16 April.

Aunor is one of the last four movie queens that include Vilma Santos, Maricel Soriano and Sharon Cuneta. During her reign, she earned the title Superstar and was conferred National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts.

Celebrities spotted during the special viewing were Laurice Guillen, Althea Ablan, Angeli Bayani, Joem Bascon, Jo Barry, Elyson de Dios, and Mercedes Cabral.

In a nutshell. Faney presented how the superfan Milagros (Guillen) dealt with the devastating news of Aunor’s demise.  In her eyes filled with nostalgia and longing, unearthed her memorabilia and in between pauses and tears, one feels the gravity of her loneliness. She convinces her granddaughter Beatrice (Ablan) to accompany her to the wake which causes the dismay and frustration of Babette (Gina Alajar).

With Guillen, giving life and heart to Lola Bona, her character’s journey to the wake becomes an eye-opener, mind expander and a motion picture that pulls the heart strings and stirs all the feels.

This tender and loving tribute, is one part for the legacy and greatness of Aunor, as shown in the memorabilia of Milagros and in the delivery lines from her films and the reenactment of some scenes from her iconic body of work such as Merika, Ikaw Ay Akin, Pacita M and Bilangin Ang Mga Bituin Sa Langit.

One part, Faney is a tribute to the symbiotic relationship that the Superstar had with her fans.  It was always a two-way kind of need, love and support of each other.  Another part, it was a tribute the glory days of magazines, vinyl records, movies, screenplay writers, director and producers whose collective artistry and energy  gave us Atsay, Annie Batungbacal, Banaue, Beloved, Bona, Condemned, Himala and the other films that starred Ate Guy,

And completing all its parts, Faney celebrated Nora Aunor’s gift to us all, which are her art, talent, heart  and passion.

The next of Faney, said Director Adolf Alix Jr., showing it in Iriga, Aunor’s hometown. Special screenings and a nationwide theatrical run will be announced soon.