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Sa Pusod ng Dagat
Sa Pusod ng Dagat
	Videotape cover
Directed by	Marilou Diaz-Abaya
Written by	Jun Lana
Produced by	Marilou Diaz-Abaya
Starring	Jomari Yllana; Chin Chin Gutierrez; Elizabeth Oropesa;
Cinematography	Romy Vitug
Edited by	Jess Navarro
Music by	Nonong Buencamino
Production; companies	GMA Films; Film Experts;
Distributed by	GMA Films
Release date	March 13, 1998;
Running time	114 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Sa Pusod ng Dagat (transl. In the Navel of the Sea) is a 1998 Filipino film produced and directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. It stars Jomari Yllana with Chin Chin Gutierrez and Elizabeth Oropesa. The film was critically acclaimed in local and international film festivals.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Plot

In a remote fishing island in the 1950s, Pepito (Jomari Yllana) grows up learning the trade of his mother, Rosa (Elizabeth Oropesa), the only midwife capable of delivering the newborn babies of their community. At first, the young son doesn't mind the unusual arrangement, but as he grows older, he begins to resist the role traditionally meant only for women.

In time, Pepito's coming of age intersects with the lives of other islanders whose beliefs and struggles become critical impetus to his maturity. Eventually, embarrassment and prejudices are overcome by acceptance and love between mother and son.^[1]

Cast

Jomari Yllana as Pepito
Elizabeth Oropesa as Rosa
Chin Chin Gutierrez as Mrs. Santiago (as Chin-Chin Gutierrez)
Pen Medina as Gusting
Rolando Tinio as Apo
Mia Gutierrez as Tale
Tanya Gomez as Minda
Manjo del Mundo as Mr. Santiago
Ronnie Lazaro as Berto
Jhong Hilario as Luis
LJ Moreno as Sara

Production

Production of the film began in June 1997 under the working title Mga Bangka sa Tag-araw.^[6]^[7]

Awards and nominations

The film received nominations and awards from different local award-giving bodies. It got two Star Awards in 1999 for Cinematographer of the Year (Romy Vitug) and Original Screenplay of the Year (Jun Lana).

The film had received invitations from 17 prestigious film festivals abroad, an unprecedented achievement in the history of Philippine cinema.^[4]

"Sa Pusod Ng Dagat" is the country's official entry to the Singapore International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Hong Kong Film Festival, Fukuoka International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival and Oslo Film Festival. It is an entry to the film festivals in London, Cairo, Bombay, Barcelona, Haifa and New York.

The film also made it to the Chicago International Film Festival, Montreal Film Festival, Nantes Festival of Free Continent and Chicago Film Festival. It was also the Philippine entry for Best Foreign Language Film in the Oscars.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b Eusebio, Aaron (November 15, 2020). "GMA at 2020 PPP: Sa Pusod ng Dagat". GMA News. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ Red, Isah (March 4, 1998). "Bubbly Actress is Preggy?". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. p. 22. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Google News.
^ Hornblow, Deborah (April 12, 1999). "Film Tour A Showcase For Philippine Director Diaz-Abaya". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Vanzi, Sol Jose (November 7, 1998). "'Sa Pusod ng Dagat' To The Oscars". Philippine Headline News Online. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ Tariman, Pablo (October 22, 2012). "Marilou Diaz-Abaya's landmark films revisited". Vera Files. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ "Special Effects Movie From Cinemax". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. June 24, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 18, 2022 – via Google News.
^ Marchadesch, Barbara (July 3, 1997). "GMA's Cinemax Offers Blueprint for Quality Films". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. p. 20. Retrieved May 18, 2022 – via Google News.
^ "45 Countries Submit Films for Oscar Consideration". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 19 November 1998. Archived from the original on 19 February 1999.