December 7 ------ When the announcement came that Vic Sotto — famously called "Bossing" by fans and colleagues — was taking on a serious role for the first time in his decades-long career, it was met with surprise and curiosity. Known as the king of comedy, his name has been synonymous with laugh-out-loud antics and holiday cheer at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). But this year, in "The Kingdom" an ingeniously reimagined tale of an uncolonized Philippines Bossing dons the heavy crown of a ruler torn between tradition and change, cracking not a single joke from beginning to end.
At the grand launch of the movie, The T-Zone asked Bossing how exactly the film's director, Mike Tuviera, convinced him to take on such a transformative project. "Actually, takot ako," Sotto admitted with his trademark candor. "I was scared! It's a serious film — something out of my comfort zone." He animatedly revealed that his children — Danica, Oyo Boy, Mayor Vico, Paulina and Tali — had actually played a part in his decision, urging him for some time now to try something different. "They told me, 'Dad, gumawa ka naman ng (why don't you make a) serious movie?' Yung mala- (something like) 'Godfather,'" the ever-doting father to his well-known brood recalled. "I kind of agreed with them and even joked I could do my version of that grumpy Tom Hanks movie which was popular at that time and call it 'A Man Called Sotto,'" the ace comedian quipped in perfect timing.
So when Direk Mike eventually presented 'The Kingdom's' concept to Bossing, he said to himself, "This could be it. This is what my children have been asking for." Pausing as if to reflect on how his big leap turned out, the revered funnyman humbly reported, "I did my best... I don't know if I did good. But I hope my best was OK." Direk Mike, who directed Bossing in the action-comedy "Mission Unstapabol" incidentally, the erstwhile MMFF regular's last big box office entry to the festival in 2018 informed The T-Zone that he was unequivocal in his vision for the film. "If Bossing said no, there would be no 'The Kingdom,'" he stated firmly.
Direk Mike went on to share that Bossing's wealth of acting experience and depth of character made him the only choice for Lakan Makisig, the embattled monarch at the story's center. "This isn't just about spectacle; it's a family drama," he explained. "At its heart, it's about relationships and the sacrifices they demand, and I knew only Bossing could bring that to life." The plot of "The Kingdom" unfolds in Kalayaan, an alternate Philippines untouched by colonization. The film finds Bossing's Lakan Makisig grappling with the weight of his throne as his family becomes entangled in betrayal and political strife. The drama intensifies when Sulo, an outcast from a farming family, played by Bossing's co-lead Piolo Pascual, emerges as a reluctant hero. As tensions within the royal family escalate and the Kingdom of Kalayaan is thrust into a battle for its future, pitting tradition against progress, Sulo's unexpected connection to the monarchy forces him to confront his past and embrace a destiny tied to the fate of the realm. With Lakan Makisig wrestling with his legacy as ruler, the two men ultimately find themselves at the heart of a story that explores loyalty, sacrifice, and the power of redemption.
Source: manilatimes.net
Коментарі