May 14, 2024
Yolly (Nora Aunor) and her brother Efren (Dan Alvaro) went to Manila to escape problems in their province. They were picked up from the streets of Ermita by wealthy businesswoman Connie (Gloria Romero), who took a fancy to them and gave them employment. Yolly was sent to work in the shop of a top couturier Roel (Len Santos). Efren worked as one of Connie's henchmen in her illegal operations, and was her boy-toy on the side.
In the evenings, Yolly sold roses inside clubs at night in the red-light district. One night while walking home, Yolly and her friend Nona (Leni Santos) stumbled upon a murder in progress, which they thought was the work of notorious killer "Boy Rosas," who a long-stemmed rose on his victims as his signature. The two unlucky women then become the targets of a paranoid criminal who wanted to eliminate the witnesses.
Nora Aunor was right in her element here as Yolly, playing another woman caught in an unfortunate circumstance. Because of her promise to their dying mother (Alicia Alonzo), she never left Efren behind, at the expense of her own happiness with her married lover Elmo (Sonny Parsons). Instead, she got herself caught up in the messes that her younger brother got himself into as a result of his impulsive tendency for violence.
This was film that launched Dan Alvaro to action stardom. His "very Filipino" visage and resemblance to Aunor led to him being cast as Efren. For a neophyte actor, he did quite well in his action scenes with multiple goons, as well as his drama scenes with Aunor, no less. Its odd to note now that Alvaro had a number of scantily-clad "beefcake" scenes here, including one where he seemed to be posing on a big rock on the Manila Bay breakwater.
Elegant movie queen Gloria Romero played totally against type here as the ruthless Connie. Sporting a massive Afro, dealing tarot cards or barking orders to her men, Romero owned all of her scenes with evil glee. Her final confrontation scene with Aunor (with her intense eyes ablaze like the flame of the lantern beside her) was an icy, suspenseful bluffing contest of wits, resolution and burning dollars -- between someone who had everything to lose and someone who had nothing more to lose.
The stellar supporting cast was very strong. Gina Alajar was Yolly's bar-girl friend Mayette, who had her own secret deals. Toby Alejar was Connie's spoiled brat son Dennis, while Rio Locsin was his defiant girlfriend Lorraine. Connie Angeles was Nona's blind sister Cita, channeling "Wait Until Dark" Audrey Hepburn when she realized the killer was in their house. Ricky Davao played Nona's boyfriend Joey, furious at Yolly's apathy. Alicia Alonzo and Romnick Sarmenta had cameos in flashbacks as Yolly's mother and the young Efren.
This film directed by Mario O'Hara, and written by Joey Javier Reyes, and modified to its final form by O'Hara and Frank Rivera was released back in 1984. It actually won its box-office face-off versus Vilma Santos' "Alyas Baby Tsina" that week of release. Since then, you do not commonly hear this film mentioned whenever the filmography of Aunor is brought up. This film noir may be underrated, but it is heartening to learn that it has not been forgotten.
This film, and its melodramatic theme song "May Bukas Ba Muli," were personal favorites of mine among the works of National Artist for Film, Ms. Nora Aunor. I first saw this in the cinema 40 years ago when I was still in my teens. I watched it again today in a special screening by EdukSine at the UP Film Institute. Alas, this print had faded and murky colors, was scratched up, with entire scenes missing (including the ending!), and the sound had a number of skips, which was unfortunate. We hope it can still be restored to its full glory in the future. 8/10.
