Kapag Langit ang Humatol
Kapag Langit ang Humatol (English: Judgement from Heaven[1]) is a 1990 Filipino revenge drama film directed by Laurice Guillen. The film stars Vilma Santos, Richard Gomez, Gloria Romero, Carmina Villaroel, and Jeffrey Santos. In the film, an ambitious house helper who wishes to become a successful person but her life becomes miserable when she is humiliated, abused, and maltreated by her evil employer. By the she achieved her dreams, she began to take revenge against her.
| Kapag Langit ang Humatol | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Laurice Guillen |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Salvador M. Royales |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Romeo "Romy" Vitug |
| Edited by | Efren Jarlego Jr. |
| Music by | Nonong Buencamino |
Production company | Vision Film Exponents |
| Distributed by | Vision Film Exponents |
Release date |
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Running time | 125 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Languages |
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A radio drama story written by Salvador M. Royales that was serialized for DZRH, it was adapted into a screenplay by Royales and Emmanuel "Maning" Borlaza. It is the first film directed by Guillen that was adapted from a radio drama.
The film was released and produced by Vision Film Exponents on October 11, 1990. The film became a box-office success and received acclaim from critics and accolades from various award-giving bodies. In 2014, the film was digitally restored and remastered by the joint cooperation of ABS-CBN Film Restoration and Central Digital Lab.
Plot
Florida Blanca is an ambitious woman who works as an employee at the Villaroel family's estate and wishes to become a successful woman one day. At the estate, she is in love with Hector, the son of Doña Octavia, despite his engagement and eventual marriage to Carol. During the wedding reception of Hector and Carol, Florida felt dizzy and nauseated and later, told Aling Tindeng she was pregnant. The act was witnessed by Octavia who decides to chain her inside the quarters.
After Florida was expelled from the estate, she began working as a seamstress and later, became the most hardworking employee and attracted the attention of Dorina. One night, Carol realizes that Bernadette is Hector and Florida's child, not hers, and decides to flee with Ariel, whom Carol has an affair with. With jealousy and rage becoming severe, Octavia gives Nelia a gun. As Carol and Ariel going to escape, they are stopped by Nelia and then, she shoots them to their deaths, attracting the attention of Hector. After shooting them both, the rage ends with Nelia shooting herself to death. The gruesome deaths were witnessed by Hector and Octavia but the latter remained silent with an angry glare.
Eleven years later, Florida became the leading executive of the company and bought the manor. Bernadette, now a teenage girl, meets Oliver.
Cast
- Vilma Santos as Florida Blanca, a house helper who later becomes a successful woman and wants to take revenge against Octavia.
- Richard Gomez as Hector, the son of Octavia who is Florida's lover.
- Gloria Romero as Octavia, the evil matriarch who gave Florida a miserable life.
- Carmina Villaroel as Bernadette, the daughter of Florida and Hector.
- Shiela Lyn Diamse as young Bernadette
- Jeffrey Santos as Oliver, the son of Dorina who after his mother's death, Florida becomes his guardian.
- Terence Baylon as young Oliver
- Charo Santos-Concio as Dorina, Florida's employer-later-business partner, and Oliver's mother.
- Kristine Garcia as Carol, Hector's wife.
- William Lorenzo as Ariel
- Eula Valdez as Nelia
- Metring David as Aling Tindeng, one of the estate's house helpers and one of the people who supports Florida
- Lilian Laing and Bessie Barredo as mahjong players
Production
Casting
Film producer Charo Santos-Concio offered two projects to actor Julio Diaz for Vision Films: one for Kapag Langit ang Humatol and one for the Ronnie Ricketts starrer Ganti ng Api (then unnamed and upcoming when Diaz was offered the roles). The actor turned down both offers because he was given assignments from his home studio, Viva Films.[2] Director Laurice Guillen previously collaborated with actress Gloria Romero in her first film as director, Kasal? in 1980 and would later collaborate with Romero in the following films including the 2000 family drama film Tanging Yaman.[3]
Digital restoration
The film was digitally restored and remastered in 2014 by ABS-CBN Film Restoration, in association with the local post-production company Central Digital Lab. According to the project head Leo Katigbak, the team encountered various defects in the film's prints including scratches, the same defects that were found during the restoration of the 1985 film Hindi Nahahati ang Langit (the film where Romero was part of the cast) and they worked for more than 1000 manual hours for restoration of the frames and 100 hours for color grading.[4] The restored version was released on December 10, 2014, in limited number of theaters.
The restored version received a free-to-air television premiere on August 12, 2018, via Sunday's Best, ABS-CBN's Sunday late-night presentation block.[5]
Reception
Accolades
| Year | Award-Giving Body | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Gawad Urian Awards | Best Picture | Kapag Langit ang Humatol | Nominated |
| Best Direction | Laurice Guillen | Won | ||
| Best Actress | Vilma Santos | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Kristine Garcia | Nominated | ||
| Carmina Villaroel[6] | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Emmanuel H. Borlaza and Salvador M. Royales | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Romy Vitug | Won | ||
| Best Production Design | Edgar Martin Littaua | Nominated | ||
| Best Editing | Efren Jarlego Jr. | Won | ||
| 1991 | FAP Awards | Best Story Adaptation | Emmanuel H. Borlaza and Salvador M. Royales | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Romy Vitug | Won |
References
- Nicanor Tiongson, ed. (1994). "Philippine Film". CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Vol. VIII (1st ed.). Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines. pp. 87, 335. ISBN 971-8546-31-6.
- "Cager complains". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. June 30, 1990. p. 16. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
Julio Diaz was given by Vision Films producer Charo Santos-Concio two more offers
- Mendoza, Ruel J. (September 7, 2013). "Gloria Romero on being part of the cast of Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas: "I'm doing this because mahal ko si Laurice."". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
But I've worked with her in other films before like Kapag Langit Ang Humatol, Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko, Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap and in her directorial debut, Kasal?
- San Diego Jr., Bayani (November 10, 2014). "'Komiks' gems restored". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ABS-CBN Corporation Communications (August 8, 2018). "Vilma returns to TV via ABS-CBN's "Sunday's Best"" (Press release). Quezon City, Metro Manila: ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- "Manunuri bares Gawad Urian nominees". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. April 13, 1995. p. A3. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
Villaroel was nominated in 1990 for best supporting actress for Kapag Langit ang Humatol