The Kingdom (2024 Philippine film)

Last updated

The Kingdom
The Kingdom MMFF poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Michael Tuviera
Screenplay byMichelle Ngu-Nario
Story by
  • Michelle Ngu-Nario
  • Michael Tuviera
Produced by
  • Camille G. Montaño
  • Ruth P. Racela
Starring
CinematographyShayne Sarte
Edited byTara Illenberger
Music byJessie Q. Lasaten
Production
companies
Distributed byMQuest Distribution
Release date
  • December 25, 2024 (2024-12-25)
Running time
133 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

The Kingdom is a 2024 Philippine action adventure film directed by Michael Tuviera from a story he co-wrote with Michelle Ngu-Nario, who solely adapted it into a screenplay. The film includes an ensemble cast featuring Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual, Cristine Reyes, Sue Ramirez, and Sid Lucero. The film is set in an alternate timeline where the Philippines was never colonized by Western powers and is a monarchy called Kalayaan.

Contents

Produced by APT Entertainment, MQuest Ventures, and MZet Television Productions, it was part of the first batch of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival. [1]

Plot

Makisig is the widowed king of Kalayaan, an uncolonized version of the Philippines in 2024 [a] . As he prepares to retire from the throne, Makisig is unsure which among his children should succeed him; Bagwis, his short-tempered but politically inept son, or his eldest daughter Matimyas, whom he had previously groomed to be his successor before she eloped with the son of a political rival.

A third child, Lualhati, is married off to a Thai prince in a diplomatic maneuver. On her way to the wedding, she is abducted by gunmen who shoot Matimyas. At a stopover, Sulo, an outcast banished for a crime committed by his father, notices Lualhati inside her kidnappers' truck, leading him to rescue her. Both hide in the hut of Sulo's former girlfriend Rosa. The next day, the kidnappers attack Rosa's hut but are fended off by Rosa and Sulo. As Sulo and Lualhati flee, Rosa and her son Kiko are killed by a gunman who reports back to Matimyas, revealing her as the mastermind of Lualhati's kidnapping.

Wigan, the leader of the secessionist group Tiwalag, says he is holding Lualhati captive and demands that Makisig grant independence to the north of the kingdom in exchange for her release. Silay, the chief babaylan, warns Makisig of a betrayal by his children. Makisig suspects Bagwis, but allows him to negotiate with Wigan in the latter's base. Bagwis makes a concession to Wigan in exchange for him presenting a bracelet from Lualhati, prompting the surprise appearance of Makisig. However, both Makisig and Bagwis realize the bracelet as fake, leading to a battle between Kalayaan and Tiwalag forces and Wigan fatally stabbing Bagwis. Enraged, Makisig kills Wigan and orders his army to massacre Wigan's warriors.

At a checkpoint, Lualhati sees a royal servant, Tarek, who sneaks her and Sulo to the royal palace. Lualhati reunites with Makisig and is informed of Bagwis's death, but Matimyas falsely accuses Sulo of shooting her during Lualhati's kidnapping. Makisig orders Sulo arrested, but Sulo reveals himself to be the son of Sigwa, a Royal Guard executed by Makisig himself when he was a prince. Invoking customary laws to avenge his father, Sulo challenges Makisig to a duel, which Makisig cannot refuse. Makisig visits Sulo in jail and reveals that Sigwa was his friend, whom he was forced to execute under customary law after he injured Makisig's brother while protecting Makisig. Makisig reveals that Sigwa absolved him as he died and expresses remorse. Before leaving, Makisig thanks Sulo for saving Lualhati and asks him to protect her should he die. That night, Matimyas' son, Felipe, hands Makisig a drawing of the person who shot her. Realizing the truth, Makisig confronts Matimyas, but the latter vents her resentment at how he shuns her for her elopement.

At the duel, Sulo fatally stabs Makisig. As Makisig's funeral is held, Sulo is released, while Matimyas becomes Queen. However, Lualhati stumbles upon Matimyas and Silay talking about how they conspired with Wigan to kidnap Lualhati and eliminate Bagwis. Lualhati confronts the two, but Matimyas reveals her desire to seize the throne and blames Lualhati and Sulo for thwarting her intention to have Makisig crown her. Matimyas also chastises Lualhati for her marriage, saying that it would have put Kalayaan under foreign control, and reveals her jealousy at Lualhati for being Makisig's favorite. After a scuffle, Lualhati is overpowered by Matimyas and Silay, but as Matimyas prepares to kill her, Felipe, overhearing the commotion, arrives and shields Lualhati. Matimyas and Silay are then arrested by the Royal Guards. With Lualhati becoming the new queen, Sulo asks for her hand, saying that her love had made him overcome his desire to avenge himself on Makisig. The film ends with Lualhati's enthronement, with Sulo as her consort.

In a mid-credits scene, Tarek visits Matimyas, who sits down and smiles menacingly in her prison cell.

Cast

Vic Sotto in Antipolo City on July 23, 2017 (cropped).jpg
Vic Sotto
Piolo Pascual at the Star Magic Concert Tour in Ontario, CA, June 2009.jpg
Piolo Pascual

Production

Flag of the Kingdom of Kalayaan, the main setting of the film. Flag of the Kingdom of Kalayaan.svg
Flag of the Kingdom of Kalayaan, the main setting of the film.

The Kingdom is a co-production between APT Entertainment, MQuest Ventures, and MZet Television Productions. Michael "Mike" Tuviera of APT serves as the film's director. [13] Michael Ngu-nario is the writer. [1] Tuviera first pitched the story to Jane Basas of MQuest during a story conference for Padyak Princess . [13]

The Kingdom is noted for not heavily featuring comedy, despite the casting of Vic Sotto, an actor that has starred in mostly comedic projects. [14] Tuviera wanted to create a "non-political film about politics" which centers around family. [8]

It was among the first five entries of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival announced on July 16, 2024; all of which were submitted as scripts. [15]

The first sequence was mentioned to be the most difficult to execute taking four to five months to set up. The production team reached out to the Philippine Navy to help them for the said sequence which served as "inspiration" for succeeding sequences. [8]

Release

As one of the ten official entries of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival, The Kingdom was released in Philippine cinemas on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024. [15]

The film is also scheduled to premier at the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Los Angeles on January 30, 2025. [16]

Reception

Box office

The film was cited by the MMFF as one of the three top-grossing entries for its 2024 edition. [17]

Accolades

Accolades received by Green Bones
YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
2024 50th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture (2nd)The KingdomWon [18]
Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence Nominated
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award Won
Best Director Michael TuvieraWon
Best Actor Vic Sotto Nominated
Piolo Pascual Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Sid Lucero Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Cristine Reyes Nominated
Best Screenplay Michelle Ngu-NarioNominated
Best Cinematography Shayne SarteNominated
Best Production Design Nestor AbrogenaWon
Best Editing Tara IllenbergerNominated
Best Original Theme Song "Magkabilaan"Nominated
Best Musical Score Jessie LasatenNominated
Best Visual Effects Riot Inc.Won
Best Child Performer Zion CruzNominated

Notes

  1. ↑ Set in the "present day" as per director Tuviera. [2] The islands were never colonized by the Spanish Empire, never a territory of the United States, or occupied by Japan in World War II. [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda movies make it to MMFF 2024". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. July 16, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  2. ↑ Ching, Mark Angelo (December 8, 2024). "Mike Tuviera explores uncolonized Philippines in The Kingdom". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved January 8, 2025. It's present day, it's 2024, but we were never colonized
  3. ↑ Mallorca, Hannah (December 26, 2024). "Why Vic Sotto rarely bonded with the cast of MMFF 2024 entry 'The Kingdom'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ Garcia, Rose (December 2, 2024). "Piolo Pascual raves about Vic Sotto's dramatic prowess". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ Frontline Pilipinas 2024, 2:18 (Text).
  6. ↑ Gabinete, Jojo (October 24, 2024). "Vic Sotto, pumayag "magpa-tattoo" para sa The Kingdom" [Vic Sotto, agreed to be "tattooed" for The Kingdom]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Salterio, Leah (December 2, 2024). "Doing a film with Piolo shocks Vic". Journal Online. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 PEP Troika (December 1, 2024). "Vic Sotto first serious film ang The Kingdom; paano napapayag?". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ Frontline Pilipinas 2024, 2:22 (Text).
  10. 1 2 3 Pagulong, Charmie Joy (December 1, 2024). "Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual on working dynamics in 2024 MMFF entry 'The Kingdom'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  11. ↑ Evangelista, Jessica Ann (November 26, 2024). "Ruby Ruiz excited for her Hollywood film 'First Light,' MMFF entry 'The Kingdom'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  12. ↑ https://insiderph.com/insider-info-most-valuable-producer-mvp-makes-cameo-appearance-in-mmff-entry
  13. 1 2 Marfori, M. J. (July 20, 2024). "Bossing Vic Sotto slated for 'eye-opening' MMFF comeback". The Philippine Star (in English and Filipino). Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ "MMFF 2024: Vic Sotto in first movie drama, Vice Ganda in first dramedy. Seriously?". Rappler. October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Mayo, Stephanie (July 18, 2024). "MMFF 50th Edition: Excitement builds as first half of finalists revealed". Daily Tribune. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ Martinez, Gavin (December 31, 2024). "'Hello, Love, Again' returns to LA as part of MIFF 2025". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  17. ↑ de Castro, Isagani Jr. (January 15, 2025). "[ANALYSIS] MMFF won't break P1-billion box-office record: Is Philippine cinema dead?". Rappler . Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  18. ↑ Reyes, Juno (December 28, 2024). "FULL LIST: Winners, 2024 MMFF Gabi ng Parangal". Rappler . Retrieved December 28, 2024.

Sources

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