Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told is underrated as a film, but it will always be considered a significant movie in Philippine cinema due to its documentation of the tragic events that led to the killing of several members of the Special Action Force, now collectively known as SAF44.
It can therefore be said that Borracho Films tries to elevate the quality of local movies with its choice of projects. Its latest production, Spring in Prague, is not the typical pre-Valentine movie offering normally lapped up by fans of love stories. It has a tone that will be detected only by the more discerning and politically aware moviegoer.
The story of Spring in Prague opens during a fashion pictorial in the Czech Republic. The photo shoot is interrupted by a carload of men sent out by a powerful figure to monitor the movements of the print and television model named Maruska, as played by Macedonian actress Sara Sandeva. The powerful man is her father, who is obsessed with controlling her life — practically even the air she breathes. Shades of the Diosdado Carandang character of Vic Silayan in Kisapmata, but minus the suggested incestuous desire.
When Maruska gets the chance to escape, she flees to the Philippines with the help of a Fil-Hispanic friend, Estrella (Elena Kozlova). She finds herself in a Puerto Galera resort that is owned and managed by Alfonso Mucho (Paolo Gumabao). The two start out as nemeses. But before the story degenerates into one of those hackneyed Star Cinema plot lines, they quickly iron out their differences and find themselves in a relationship. It’s an instant romance, which is how the young today find love.
The romantic scenes in the island affair are standard. They kiss. They bed — the usual. But it is when Maruska is tricked by her tyrannical father into returning to the Czech Republic that viewers begin to feel what an intense love story Spring in Prague truly is. The swoon-worthy scenes happen, ironically enough, when they are away from each other.
They lose contact because Maruska’s father keeps her a prisoner in their house. The two lovers practically go crazy when they are separated from each other, especially Alfonso, since he is kept in the dark as to what happened to his inamorata.
Alfonso’s passionate love manifests itself when he is shown at the Prague airport looking like a lovesick puppy. Imagine traveling to the other side of the globe in search of the woman he loves, uncertain about where to find her. Now that is true love.
It actually helps that Gumabao is a very good actor — always has been. He is lucky that part of his early training was under Cannes Film Festival winner Brillante Mendoza. As an actor, he is very passionate about his craft. He is perfect playing Alfonso, since the role calls for someone who sounds like a native English speaker. His command of the King’s language is flawless.
In Spring in Prague, he has palpable chemistry with Sandeva, who is very popular in the Czech Republic. Sandeva is a striking beauty with a porcelain-like complexion. She registers well in her scenes with Gumabao. They make a lovely onscreen pair, and their perfect combination helps turn Spring in Prague into a great love story.
The tireless search of Alfonso for Maruska is mostly shot in Prague. But the film’s director, Lester Dimaranan, exercises enough restraint by not turning the movie into a travelogue. After all these decades, Prague is still a beautiful city, with its old-world charm unchanging. (Spring in Prague is done in collaboration with FilmFrame.) Thankfully, there are scenes showing the world-famous Holy Infant of Prague, an icon revered by Catholics all over the globe, especially among Filipinos in search of miracles.
It is in the stolen moments between Maruska and Alfonso in Prague where the excitement in the film intensifies. Viewers feel their pain, their longing for each other. It is in these scenes where the moviegoer begins to appreciate the beauty of Spring in Prague as a love story.
Spring in Prague, of course, is not your run-of-the-mill rom-com. Its screenplay is by the celebrated writer Eric Ramos. And when it is a script by Eric Ramos, expect the material to have a strong socio-political message.
The historical fact that both the Philippines and the Czech Republic were once under dictatorial rule is not lost on Ramos. The fascist figure in the movie, of course, is Maruska’s father. Was his character inspired by Silayan’s Diosdado Carandang in Kisapmata? Most likely, since Kisapmata was filmed during the martial law era and there are a lot of anti-military sentiments in this Mike de Leon masterpiece.
Spring in Prague is a leveled-up love story. It imparts a lot of lessons on geography, cultural ties, political suppression and even smooth transitions in governments. The Philippines had the peaceful EDSA Revolution in 1986, while Czechoslovakia had its own Velvet Revolution later, in 1989.
Even with a change of name, it’s still difficult to make an acronym out of Czech Republic. But Prague is doable. So here’s an acronym to describe Spring in Prague, but using only the name of the city: Prague (Passionate Romance And Geographical Universal Education).
There really is a lot to learn in the film Spring in Prague. It is several notches above the usual love story offered by most other movie companies. The viewer doesn’t only fall in love when watching the film, but also gets informed and educated.
