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Assunta & Jay Reunited On The Big Screen Via ‘Higanti’ After 16 Years

Mar 21, 2017

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In her generation, Assunta De Rossi is considered as one of the finest actresses in Philippine Cinema. She bagged the elusive Urian Best Actress for her landmark film “Hubog” (2001) by master director Joel Lamangan.

She had other acting nominations as Best Actress for FAMAS Awards for the same film, and still in Urian Awards for Auraeus Solitos’ “Baybayin” (2012).

On March 22, Assunta is back to her “lead actress status” on film via Gitana Film Productions’ initial offering — “HIGANTI” (Revenge), an explosive action-drama film that tells about how a strong and loving woman fight to get back everything that was stolen from her.

After 16 years since Assunta was launched in “Hubog”, she’s reunited on the big screen with her same leading man, Jay Manalo, in “Higanti”, directed by Rommel Ricafort.

Manalo, likewise an award-winning actor, has an Urian Best Actor trophy for Erik Matti’s “Prosti” (2002) and a FAMAS Best Actor plum for Francis Posadas’ “Bayaran” (2003).

He also won as Best Supporting Actor for Joel Lamangan’s “Aishite Imasu (Mahal Kita) 1941” (2004) from Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), and had numerous acting nominations in various local award giving bodies.

With the logline “Lintik lang ang walang higanti!”, the movie tells how a wealthy family crumbled because of greed and selfishness.

The main character, Leni Buenaobra (Assunta De Rossi), a mother, wife and a businesswoman who was abused by her husband, Congressman Alex Ariete (Jay Manalo). Also part of the narrative are Leni and Alex’s children Jean and Francis played by Meg Imperial and Hashtag Jon Lucas. Others in the cast are Katrina Halili, Kiko Matos, DJ Durano, Alwyn Uytingco, and more.

Alex married another woman, Dolly (Katrina Halili) after his marriage with Leni got annulled. He brainwashed their children to get all their mother’s hard earned wealth.

The movie was produced by Gitana Film Productions whose maiden venture was Sa Pag-ikot ng Mundo in 1976. Maria Teresa Cancio, the owner of Goodwill Bookstore, is the woman behind Gitana. Also, screenplay is a collaboration of Rommel Ricafort, Susan Lara, Mario Mendez, Jr., Bimbo Papasin, and Esmeralda Cortez, with Shine Deauna-Ricafort as production manager.

Direk Rommel said that “It was inspired by true events,” I did interview while doing the script. I interviewed nannies and friends from politics to make the story real.”

The film was screened last January 21, 2017 in Aeon Chaya Cinema, Nagoya Japan and last February 5 in Nagoya International Center, Japan. Other international screenings will include some countries in the United Arab Emirates on last week of April this year.