Mahal Kita, Beksman

Last updated
Mahal Kita, Beksman
"Mahal Kita, Beksman" - "I Love You, Beksman" (2022) film poster.jpeg
Official film poster
Directed by Perci Intalan
Written byFatrick Tabada
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMo Zee
Edited byNoah Tonga
Music byEmerzon Texon
Production
companies
Distributed by Viva Films
Release date
  • November 16, 2022 (2022-11-16)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryPhilippines
Language Tagalog

Mahal Kita, Beksman (English: I Love You, Beksman) is a 2022 Filipino romantic comedy film directed by Perci Intalan, with a screenplay by Fatrick Tabada. [2] [3] It is a reversal of a coming out story, where the protagonist Dali is an effeminate heterosexual man who reveals that he is straight, to the shock and dismay of the people around him. [3] It stars Christian Bables, Iana Bernardez, Keempee de Leon, and Katya Santos. [4] [5]

Contents

The film was a joint production by The IdeaFirst Company, Viva Films, and Powerhouse Media Capital. [6] [1] The word "Beksman" in the title is a pun between the swardspeak word "beks" (short for "beki" or gay) and the Tagalog slang word "peksman" (I promise).

Plot

Dali is a flamboyant make-up artist and designer. He lives happily with his parents Jaime and Gemma, who are in a platonic marriage, and his adoptive siblings, most of whom are openly gay or trans. They run a successful family-owned beauty salon and boutique. Dali is trying to create what he calls "the gown that will end all gowns," but he lacks a muse. While doing makeup for his client Analyn, he meets her fellow beauty pageant contestant, Angel. Dali falls in love at first sight with Angel.

He helps Angel with a gown mishap. Onstage during the pageant, she gives a speech thanking him, leaving him in awe. His first encounter with Angels inspire him to work on his dream gown. He also has a romantic dream about her. The next day, she invites him to her house so he can help her with her makeup. He finds himself intimidated by Angel's macho brothers and father.

He tries to tell her that he's straight and identifies as a cisgender man. Angel laughs at him, believing it to be a joke. When he insists that he's being serious, she still doesn't believe him. At dinner, he later admits to his family that he's straight. They are horrified by the revelation, and his gay father, Jaime, insists that Dali is just pretending to be straight, like he was forced to do when he was Dali's age.

Dali starts to formally court Angel. He spends much of the film trying to look and act in a macho way. Following an initially successful courtship, he ends up pushing her away due to the toxic masculinity that he develops. After they drift apart, a depressed Dali sheds his macho persona and reverts to his true, effeminate self. Online, he apologizes to Angel and says that he should've spent less time trying to prove that he's straight and more time simply proving how much he loves her. Dali's family finally accepts that he's straight, but Dali also accepts that his gender expression is not traditionally masculine.

In the final scene, Angel reconciles with Dali. Angel, Dali, and both of their families dance to the song "Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso" by Donna Cruz. Angel and Dali almost kiss on the lips, but her strict father humorously interrupts them.

Cast

Main cast

Supporting cast

Production

According to Intalan, the film had a limited production budget. [2] Filming for Beksman wrapped in June 2022. [7]

Development

According to the openly queer director Intalan, the idea for the film first came about when he discussed "unusual" love stories with his IdeaFirst co-founder and former husband, Jun Lana. Intalan recalled a time in high school when he fell in love with a girl.

He says that other people were puzzled when he courted her, especially because everyone, including the girl, was aware that his entire social circle was openly queer. Despite this, they dated for some time. Screenwriter Tabada fleshed out the anecdote into an original story, upon which Beksman was based. [2] [4] [8]

Intalan has said of the film, "What we're espousing now is to 'Free your mind.' We should no longer label people because we always say, love is love. So this film is actually a reverse of typical stories, and a lot of lessons can be gleaned in accepting someone – whether they be gay or straight." [4]

He intentionally evoked nostalgia for 1980s and 1990s Philippine rom-coms. Many of those films feature Bollywood-like musical numbers. Although Beksman is not a musical film, Intalan says he sought out to create a "colorful, musical, almost fairy-tale-ish world" for its main couple, Dali and Angel. [2] One of the ways that the film evokes nostalgia for those decades is by heavily using the 1990 pop song "Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso" by Donna Cruz. Cruz, who was in a love team with Keempee de Leon during the era, congratulated him and said that her song was perfect for the film. De Leon has expressed his delight in hearing the song again after many years, in a film wherein he is a cast member. [9]

Casting

Intalan and Lana hand-picked the cast. [8] Intalan says they were already fans of Keempee de Leon [4] and offered the role of Dali's father Jaime through his manager, Malou Fagar, when de Leon was still filming for the teleserye 2 Good 2 Be True . According to Intalan, Keempee de Leon was initially hesitant to join Beksman, because it had been more than a decade since he was in a film. [10]

The cast was first announced in July 2022. [11]

Release

Theatrical release

The film was released in Philippine cinemas on November 16, 2022. [12] In August 2023, it received a limited release at the Si̇nema Transtopia, an arthouse cinema in Berlin, Germany. [13]

Film festivals

The film screened at various international film festivals, including:

In an interview with The Manila Times , director Perci Intalan also mentioned that it screened at an unspecified festival in Seoul, South Korea. [19]

Streaming

In March 2023, the film premiered on Amazon Prime Video in select territories. [24] [25]

Critical reception

Mahal Kita, Beksman received generally favorable reviews. Although many reviews criticized the highly campy style of the film and the lack of character material for Iana Bernardez, its ensemble cast garnered universal acclaim for their performances in local and international reviews alike.

Mario Bautista of Journal News Online praised Tabada's "original and well paced screenplay that never lags." He declared it Intalan's "best work to date." He also commended the cast's "uniformly splendid" acting. [26] Goldwin Reviews gave the film 4 stars out of 5. They praised Bables' performance, but said that Bernardez was under-utilized. [12]

In a review for NYAFF, Leon Overee of Asian Movie Pulse praised Carmela Danao and Emilio Medrano's "brilliant" set design, describing Beksman as a "candy land" that "glitters with pure energy." He criticized Tabada's screenplay for being "one-dimensional." [27] In a separate review for FFi, Marina Richter of Asian Movie Pulse called Beksman a "strange film with an awkwardly plotted love story." Nonetheless, she praised the cast, ascribing the film's "joy factor" to their "great" performances. [21]

Like Overee, Wally Adams of Eastern Kicks made note of the film's "rainbow-hued" set design. He wrote that "I Love You, Beksman has more to say and is able to do more with its concept than many movies that take themselves far more seriously can successfully tackle." He singled out Bables, de Leon, Bernardez, and Katanyag's performances as standouts. Adams concluded that the film was "likably giddy" and "befittingly timely." [28]

Basil Baradaran (The Asian Cinema Critic) wrote that Beksman "toes the lines between tiresome and charming, never really landing in one particular spot." He praised the cast, whom he described as "all delightful and a joy to watch." He said that the viewing experience was "a little like watching your favourite sitcom that hasn't aged particularly well but that you'll always love." [29] Writing for Pink News , Asyia Iftikhar described the film as "a refreshing addition to the genre of LGBTQ+ film." She commended its "beautifully optimistic" ending. [30]

Jennie Kermode of Eye for Film called Beksman "a joyous, life-affirming film," giving it 3.5 stars out of 5. [31] Rich Cline (Shadows on the Wall) gave the film 4 stars out of 5, comparing it to the French classic La Cage aux Folles . He called Bables "hugely charming" as Dali and praised the cast for "each[…] find[ing] an engaging spark of personality to bring their characters to vivid life." [32]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2023
The 39th Luna Awards
Best Picture
Mahal Kita, Beksman
Nominated [33]
Best Director
Perci Intalan
Nominated
Best Actor
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Nominated
Best Production Design
Carmela Danao
Nominated
Best Musical Scoring
Emerzon Tecson
Nominated
Best Editing
Noah Tonga
Nominated [34]
Best Musical Score
Emerzon Tecson
Nominated
The Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival Audience Prize
Best Director
Perci Intalan
Nominated [35]
Best Non-US Release (Philippines)
Mahal Kita, Beksman
Won [36]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilita Corrales</span> Filipino actress and musician

Pilar Garrido Corrales is a Filipino pop singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and television presenter. She is best-known for her distinctive backbend when singing and is popularly referred to as the "Asia's Queen of Songs" for her vocal style and longevity.

Ariel Aquino Muhlach, popularly known as Aga Muhlach, is a Philippine actor. Regarded as the "King of Romance-Drama" and the Philippines' Original Heartthrob, he has received numerous local and international accolades throughout his career, including Star Awards, Maria Clara Awards, and FAMAS Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Trillo</span> Filipino actor, model and recording artist

Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho, known professionally as Dennis Trillo, is a Filipino actor. He is known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the first ever gay-themed series on Philippine TV, My Husband's Lover aired on GMA Network in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher de Leon</span> Filipino actor and filmmaker (born 1956)

Christopher Strauss de León, also known as Boyet, is a Filipino actor, filmmaker and politician. Often referred to as the "King of Philippine Drama", he gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous film and television productions including period, romantic drama and thriller. His work has received various accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including eight FAMAS Awards, two Gawad Urian Awards, four Luna Awards, nine Star Awards, and eight Metro Manila Film Festival Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Ann Santos filmography</span> Filipino actress filmography

Judy Ann Santos is a Filipino actress who began her career performing as a child on film and television. Her first screen appearance was in a supporting role in the drama series Kaming Mga Ulila (1986) and she made her film debut with a minor role in Sana Mahalin Mo Rin Ako (1988), appearing alongside Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III. At age ten, Santos had her first leading role as the eponymous character in the children's television series Ula, Ang Batang Gubat (1988). She achieved wider recognition when she and Gladys Reyes played the titular roles in the drama series Mara Clara (1992). The show, which aired until 1997, became one of the longest running Filipino television series. It established her as a star and earned Santos a FAMAS Award for her performance in the 1996 film adaptation.

Rodolfo R. Lana Jr., known professionally as Jun Robles Lana, is a Filipino filmmaker. The winner of 11 Palanca Awards for Literature, he became the youngest member of the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2015, he directed the actual one-shot film, Shadow Behind The Moon, which won the Best Director, NETPAC and FIPRESCI awards at the 13th Pacific Meridian Film Festival. At the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala, he won the Best Director award for the same film.

Boyfriends is a musical group from the Philippines. Their heyday was in the 1970s as one of the most prominent bands of the Manila sound, with pop and disco harmonies reminiscent of the Bee Gees. Several of their recordings are among the most popular Tagalog and English songs of the Philippines from the late 1970s and early 1980s, and have since been covered by a number of the Philippines' most popular singers, among others.

Joseph Joachim Tugas de Leon, better known as Keempee de Leon, is a Filipino actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and TV host. He is the son of Joey de Leon and Daria Ramirez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Aquino</span> Filipino actress (born 1973)

Angelita Grace Velasquez Aquino is a Filipino actress, fashion model, and television personality. Prominent in independent films, she has also worked on television shows of varying genres, and is known for her versatility and adaptability in portraying protagonists and villains. She has received various accolades, including six Star Awards, two Golden Screen Awards, and a Gawad Urian.

Marie Rachel Salman Taleon-Lagdameo, known professionally as Dawn Zulueta, is a Filipino actress, host and commercial model. She was recognized as the only Filipino actor to win two different major accolades in acting categories in a single year when she won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the 1992 FAMAS Awards. She also appeared in Manila Standard's Top 10 Filipina actresses of the 1990s list of 1999.

Charlotte Jennifer Villamayor de Leon-El Soury, known professionally as Lotlot de Leon, is a Filipino actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco Sison</span> Musical artist

Raul Marco Sison is a Filipino singer, actor, and politician.

Dementia is a 2014 Filipino horror film directed by Perci Intalan, in his directorial debut. The film stars Nora Aunor as Mara, a woman faced with dementia encountering strange occurrences in her ancestral home. The film premiered on September 24, 2014, under Regal Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Garcia</span> Filipino actor (born 1997)

Joshua Espineli Garcia is a Filipino actor, dancer, and commercial model. He began his professional acting career in 2015 after being part of the reality show Pinoy Big Brother: All In as a contestant. He rose to prominence for his critically acclaimed performances in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival top-grosser Vince and Kath and James and in the primetime series The Good Son. Garcia has starred in various TV series such as The Greatest Love (2016), Ngayon at Kailanman (2018), The Killer Bride (2019), and Unbreak My Heart (2023). He has also starred in the films Love You to the Stars and Back (2017), I Love You, Hater (2018), Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan (2023), and Un/Happy For You (2024).

<i>Die Beautiful</i> 2016 LGBT drama film by Jun Lana

Die Beautiful is a Filipino LGBT comedy-drama film produced and directed by Jun Robles Lana and co-produced by Ferdinand Lapuz and Perci M. Intalan, from a story by Jun Lana and screenplay by Rody Vera. It stars Paolo Ballesteros as Trisha, a trans woman who suddenly died after she was crowned winner of a gay beauty pageant and her friends who transform her into a different person on each night of her wake in a different location as a way to avoid being buried as a man by her father. It also tackles her whole life when she felt and dealt with problems and successes on living as a Filipina transgender as well as controversy in her family.

Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita is a 1985 Philippine romantic drama film directed by Eddie Garcia from a screenplay by Orlando R. Nadres, based on the komiks serial by Gilda Olvidado. The film stars Christopher de Leon and Sharon Cuneta in their second film together since Bituing Walang Ningning, with the supporting cast includes Joel Alano, Cherie Gil, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Eddie Rodriguez, and Liza Lorena, and special participation of Paraluman.

Christian Mercurio Bables, is a Filipino actor and model. He is best known for starring in Jun Lana and Perci Intalan's films, as well as his role as Max Dionisio in Dirty Linen.

Iana Celest Aquino Bernardez is a Filipino film producer and actress known for her production work on films such as Kiko Boksingero, Oda Sa Wala, Tia Madre, and Babae at Baril and for her critically acclaimed film acting debut in the 2018 film Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus. She also won Best Supporting Actress at the 2019 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival for the 2019 film Metamorphosis. She is the daughter of Filipina actress Angel Aquino.

<i>Ten Little Mistresses</i> 2023 Philippine comedy film

Ten Little Mistresses is a 2023 Philippine black comedy mystery film. The film was produced by The IdeaFirst Company in association with Quantum Productions and is the first Filipino-produced film to be launched on Amazon Prime Video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Aquino on screen and stage</span>

Filipino actress Angel Aquino has appeared in film, television, and stage productions. She made her screen debut with a minor role in the action drama Mumbaki (1996), and appeared in supporting roles in the dramas Goodbye America (1997), Bata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa? (1998), and Serafin Geronimo (1998). Her first television appearance was as a presenter of the lifestyle show F! (1999). In 2000, Aquino had her breakthrough in the erotic drama Laro sa Baga, for which she received a Star Award for Best Supporting Actress. She made her stage debut in 2002 with the Folk Arts Theater production of Eve Ensler's play The Vagina Monologues, portraying a Bosnian woman subjected to rape.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mahal Kita, Beksman Company Credits". IMDb.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Breaking the rules: Perci Intalan on I Love You, Beksman and About Us But Not About Us". Eye for Film.
  3. 1 2 3 "I Love You, Beksman (UK Premiere)". Queer East.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "'Mahal Kita, Beksman': A straight guy coming out in a gay world". The Freeman Cebu.
  5. ↑ "'Mahal Kita, Beksman' explores colorful complexities of relationships". Sunstar.
  6. ↑ "Christian Bables, Keempee de Leon pinatawa, pinaiyak ang madlang pipol sa 'Mahal Kita, Beksman'; pang-award ang akting". Bandera (Philippine Daily Inquirer) (in Tagalog).
  7. ↑ "Direk Perci keeps busy". Business World.
  8. 1 2 "Perci Intalan, umaming nakaranas ng heterosexual relationship". Philippine Entertainment Portal (in Tagalog).
  9. ↑ "Keempee ug Christian maghiusa sa pagpakatawa". PhilStar (in Cebuano).
  10. ↑ "Perci Intalan hopeful that moviegoers will return after pandemic". Manila Bulletin.
  11. ↑ "Christian Bables leads upcoming film 'Mahal Kita, Beksman'". The Freeman Cebu.
  12. 1 2 "MAHAL KITA, BEKSMAN". Goldwin Reviews.
  13. ↑ "Mahal Kita, Beksman/I Love You, Beksman". Si̇nema Transtopia (in German).
  14. ↑ "Pelikula ni Christian Bables, pasok sa Rotterdam filmfest". NewsKo (in Tagalog).
  15. ↑ "I Love You, Beksman". International Film Festival Rotterdam.
  16. ↑ "Pika's Pick: Mahal Kita, Beksman makes it to the International Film Festival Rotterdam". Pikapika.
  17. ↑ "I Love You, Beksman (Mahal Kita, Beksman, Percival M. Intalan, 2022)". Windows on Worlds.
  18. ↑ "22nd New York Asian Film Festival Jul 14-30, 2023)". NYAFF.
  19. 1 2 "No ambition". The Manila Times– via MSN.
  20. ↑ "MQFF 23: Opening Night – I Love You, Beksman". The Astor Theatre.
  21. 1 2 "Movie Review: I Love You, Beksman (2022) by Perci M. Intalan". Asian Movie Pulse.
  22. ↑ "I Love You Beksman". Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.
  23. ↑ "Movie Karawan 2024 – La festa di cinema, commedie e culture di Tor Pignattara". Framed Magazine (in Italian).
  24. ↑ "Deleter, Triangle of Sadness to stream on Prime Video this March". The Philippine Star– via PressReader.
  25. ↑ "Why 'Mahal Kita, Beksman' Is the Ultimate Must-Watch". Village Pipol.
  26. ↑ "Review of Viva-Idea First hilarious comedy 'Mahal Kita, Beksman'". Journal News Online.
  27. ↑ "Film Review: I Love You, Beksman (2022) by Perci M. Intalan". Asian Movie Pulse.
  28. ↑ "I Love You, Beksman". Eastern Kicks.
  29. ↑ "I Love You, Beksman". The Asian Cinema Critic.
  30. ↑ "This unconventional coming out story is a love letter to queer Filipinos". Pink News.
  31. ↑ "I Love You, Beksman". Eye for Film.
  32. ↑ "Shadows off the beaten path: I Love You, Beksman (Mahal Kita, Beksman)". Shadows on the Wall.
  33. ↑ "Belle Mariano, Liza Lorena, Cristine Reyes, Heaven Peralejo, Cindy Miranda bakbakan sa pagka-best actress sa 39th Luna Awards". Bandera (Philippine Daily Inquirer) (in Tagalog).
  34. ↑ "6th EDDYS: Kim, Nadine, Janine, Heaven, Max, Rose magtatagisan para sa Best Actress". PEP.ph (in Tagalog).
  35. ↑ "Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2023 Awards". IMDb.
  36. ↑ "Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Awards: 'Oppenheimer' Takes 8". Awards Watch.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.