AURORA

"AURORA", the controversial independent film of Rosanna Roces, will have a special one-time screening at the U.P. Cine Adarna this January 19th, 7:30 p.m.

The film, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr., was slapped with 2 "X" ratings from the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) declaring it "unfit for public viewing."

"AURORA" is Roces' first film after La Vida Rosa (2001) which gave her the URIAN Best Actress award. In Aurora, she co-stars with Sid Lucero, who won Best Actor for Selda in the URIAN and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival; Kristofer King, who made waves with his acclaimed performances in Babae Sa Breakwater, Tirador, Serbis and Angeli Bayani who was adjudged Best Actress in the 10th CineManila International Film Festival for Melancholia.

SYNOPSIS:

The film is an intimate portrait of a captor and a captive as they both struggle to survive in the depths of a jungle.

A social worker named Aurora (Rosanna Roces) is kidnapped by members of the Lost Command. After a military raid in the middle of the night, she gets lost in the forest. She walks aimlessly in the thick forest, hoping to find her way out to freedom. She is found by Fadi (Sid Lucero), one of her captors. Aurora tries every way in order to run away. Will she see the break of dawn alive?


For ticket inquiries, please call the UP Film Institute at 926-3640.

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Osang film gets 2nd X rating

By Bayani San Diego Jr.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 18:48:00 12/27/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) gave a second X rating early this week to Rosanna Roces' comeback movie "Aurora," directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.

The independent film got its first X following its initial review by the board, which declared it unfit for public viewing.

Roces plays a social worker abducted and molested by members of a "lost command" (Sid Lucero and Kristofer King).

In a previous interview, Roces told Inquirer that the film's first X rating was "unbelievable, noting that what "Aurora" showed was "nothing compared to what I did in my old sexy movies."

Kid stuff

Compared to those, she said, "Aurora" was kid stuff. "Why does the board make it difficult for indie movies to be shown in theaters [by rating them X]?" she asked. "Independent movies bring honor to the country [when they win in festivals abroad]."

Co-star Lucero added that "art will never be given much leeway in a Catholic country like ours."

The second review committee consisted of Fr. Nick Cruz, Mario Hernando, Noel del Prado, Jojo Alejar and Marra Lanot.

Board chair Marissa Laguardia said the film's producers have the option to refer the matter to Malacañang's appeals committee. Alix said he plans to do that.

'Too explicit'

According to Laguardia, the committee reported that the "controversial" scenes had been retained. In its first review, the board had found those scenes "too explicit."

Lanot said the "mashing of Rosanna's breast and the pumping scene ... [were] prolonged and gratuitous."

Hernando said he wanted to give the movie an R-18 rating without cuts.

Alix plans to screen the uncut "Aurora" at the Cultural Center of the Philippines or the UP Film Institute, both censorship-free zones.

http://showbizandst yle.inquire r.net/breakingnews/ breakingnew s/view/20081227- 180216/Osang- film-gets-2nd- X-rating