‘Paglilitis’ reveals cast with character photos while in production
Courtesy of Paulo Henson
Jonalyn (Reyes-Robinson), a reclusive assistant in Laguna, is empowered by passionate attorney Silvia Ardenia (Valdes) to file a case of sexual harassment against her former boss, Eduardo Guzman (Martinez), the respected CEO of a leading local milk manufacturer. Their case is complicated by Eduardo’s wife, Mildred (Blanco), who is intent on protecting their legacy, as the case plays out in the courts of law and public opinion.
The film marks Blanco’s first role in a Cinemalaya-produced film, coming off steady appearances in the GMA TV show Widow’s War, and the films Family of Two and Five Breakups and a Romance.
Martinez recurs in the Kapamilya Channel’s Batang Quiapo. He last appeared in On the Job: The Missing 8 in 2021, released locally as a six-episode miniseries recut with the film’s 2013 predecessor. Valdes, who won Best Actress at Cinemalaya in 2014 for Dagitab, recently appeared in the Prime Video-released film, Nocturnal.
Paglilitis marks Reyes-Robinson’s first leading film role after playing Karen in The Boy Foretold by the Stars and its miniseries sequel Love Beneath the Stars, and guest starring in IdeaFirst’s Pearl Next Door.
Other supporting roles are played by Sid Lucero in his second consecutive film with Cinemalaya after An Errand, and Paolo O’Hara, Best Supporting Actor winner for Ang Duyan ng Magiting. Rounding out the ensemble are Barbara Miguel, Rolando Inocencio, Cherry Malvar, Bombi Plata, Marnie Lapus, and Jose Carlos Gonzalez.
Paglilitis is Cheska Marfori’s feature-length directorial debut, while the film is written and produced by Raymund Barcelon. Edwin Mores will serve as line producer. Marfori is no stranger to the Cinemalaya festival, co-writing and co-directing the 2020 short film entry Ang Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert with Janina Gacosta. Barcelon is a veteran TV writer who has worked on the TV shows Maria Mercedes, Hawak Kamay, and Halik. Paglilitis sees Sol Garcia (Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, Bambanti) as its cinematographer, while Lars Magbanua (Hold Me Close, Isolated) is the film’s production designer. Filmmaking multihyphenate Glenn Barit (Cleaners) joins the crew as its editor. The film is a LargaVista production, with funding from Cinemalaya.
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