Alan Paule Movies
- 2005
Following the death of his father and a chance meeting with an abusive romance novelist, a masseur working in a gay massage parlor struggles to make sense of his unfulfilling relationships while simultaneously assisting his mother in preparing his father for burial. Twenty-year-old Iliac (Coco Martin) may not be the best masseur in the parlor, but when he catches the eye of a cold and calculated romance novelist looking for a cheap thrill, the icy indifference displayed by his paying lover does little more to warm the spirits than his sexually charged but emotionally distant girlfriend. Despite the resentment Iliac feels towards his late father for abandoning the family and embarking on a suicidal alcohol binge, the lovelorn youth nevertheless makes the journey home to be there for his grieving mother in her time of need. As he prepares his father for burial and his mind wanders back to the previous night's encounter at the massage parlor, Iliac's increasingly complex love life disturbingly begins to mirror his troubled family life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Coco Martin, Alan Paule, (more)
- 2001
Veteran filmmaker Joel Lamangan directs this harrowing journey of one young lad negotiating through the jungles a maximum-security prison in the Philippines. An orphan raised among distant relatives in the slums of Manila, Sonny Corpus (Cogie Domingo) likes little more than hanging out with his buddies Celso, Jimmy, and Rodel. When Celso cons Sonny into participating in a robbery along with his friends, Jimmy and Rodel end up dead along with an old lady. Unable to prove his innocence of the crime (Celso pulled the trigger) and unable to prove his minor status, Sonny gets pinned with the crime and sentenced to death. Sonny quickly learns the rules and hierarchies of the prison -- Mio is the boss who recruits Sonny as a pusher for his illicit smuggling business. His trusted henchman Gabino (Pen Medina) is quietly plotting a palace coup and tries to win Sonny over with gifts and favors. Yet when Sonny makes it clear that he's loyal to Mio, Gabino exacts an awful revenge. Later, Sonny is taken in by Lolo Sinat (Eddie Garcia), an aging gangster whom everyone in prison respects. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Garcia, Cogie Domingo, (more)
- 2000
A gay man falls in love with a dancer who turns out to be unfortunately heterosexual in this drama from the Philippines. Melvin is a social worker who goes to a club one night and sees a handsome young man dancing on stage in a glittery G-string. To his surprise, Melvin realizes that he's the same man whom he found one night trying to hustle johns at a bus stop. Melvin took pity on the man, whose name was Efren, and gave him a place to stay for the night, though they didn't have sex. Melvin is attracted to Efren, and he takes him up on an offer to move into his new home. However, Marvin discovers that Efren already has three other roommates, all women -- his fiery and passionate girlfriend Ana, his promiscuous sister Rina, and Magda, whose taste for rough sex left her disfigured after an extramarital affair went to far. Melvin becomes close friends with Efren, though his desire for him goes unrequited. Sa Paraiso ni Efren was screened at the 2000 Turin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Paule
- 1998
Selya (Rosanna Roces), schoolteacher in a small Philippine town, has an affair with the reluctant Bobby (Gardo Versoza), who leaves town one day. To follow him, Selya quits her job but fails to find him. Relocating at a village he visits, she moves into a boarding house of gay Ramon (Ricky Davao), lover of a married man with two children. Selya doesn't know Ramon's background, so when he asks her to become his wife, she agrees. The wedding night is a disaster, as Ramon fails to perform. Meanwhile, Bobby turns up, and Selya, discovering the truth about Ramon, is soon back in Bobby's arms. Explicit sex scenes resulted in problems with Philippine censors. Shown at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosanna Roces, Ricky Davao, (more)
- 1992
The mayor of Manilla has been carrying on an affair with a formerly famous local movie star for years. He has supported her and her family with public funds. His wife has been aware of the set-up all along, but as long as it didn't threaten her cushy and powerful position at the center of power, she allowed it to continue. However, the mayor is coming up for re-election, and it's becoming clear that his little secret (which everyone who is anyone knows) is about to become public property and may cost him the election. Steps must be taken. At the same time, the fading star, no stranger to the fierce political winds within the movie industry, is attempting to stay afloat somehow. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher De Leon, Dina Bonnevie, (more)
