Affeksjonsverdi

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Two sisters survive childhood trauma and navigate adulthood through different means. Nora (Renate Reinsve) ends up a bit neurotic, a locally renowned theater actress having an affair with one of her married co-actors. Her younger sister Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) is a historian and raising a small family of her own with her husband and son. Whatever stability they currently have in life is at risk of being upended when their estranged father, celebrated film director Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård), comes back to Norway trying to make amends. He hands Nora a script he wrote for a comeback film and he wants to cast her in the lead role. Unfortunately, she doesn’t want to work with him, which leads him to court popular American actress Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) for the role. To make matters more complicated, they are planning to film at the family home where Nora and Agnes grew up.

یک تصادف ساده (It Was Just an Accident)

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A man with an artificial leg stops by a mechanic’s shop along the road to ask for help in the middle of the night after his car breaks down, his wife and daughter in tow. One of the mechanics named Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) recognizes the sound of the man’s prosthetic leg as well as his voice. He hides and follows him later back to his home. The next day he abducts him and almost buries him alive, calling him Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) or “Peg Leg” aka the intelligence officer who tortured him and destroyed his life. The man denies his accusations and is consequently knocked out cold and kept captive at the back of a van. To confirm whether the man is really who he believes him to be, Vahid is sent by a friend to seek help in identifying him to Shiva (Mariam Afshari) who was also detained by the same man and now working as a photographer. What will they do once they confirm that it is really he who ruined their lives?

Memoirs of a Geisha

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Chiyo and her older sister Satsu are taken away from their rural cliffside home by the sea and sent to Kyoto where they are separated. Chiyo ends up at an okiya, which is a lodging house for geisha. She wasn’t really born to be one, but it seems to be the destiny life has in store for her. Her rise from maid to one of Gion’s top geisha is not without problems. For one, her okiya’s primary geisha, Hatsumomo, has vowed to make her life a living hell. Even then, she gains allies from unexpected people like Hatsumomo’s rival Mameha who takes her under her wing as well as the Chairman of Iwamura Electric who becomes her inspiration to succeed so she would be noticed by him. As fortunes are reversed and life’s adversities come one by one, Chiyo transforms into Nitta Sayuri, one of the most successful geisha of all time. This is her story.

Agaw-Anino II

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Isa na ngayong manunulat si Arturo at ang kanyang pinagkakaabalahan ay ang pagkalap ng samu’t saring salaysay ukol sa mga kababalaghan na hindi kasalukuyang maipaliwanag ng agham at lipunan. Susuyurin niya ang mga lalawigan at maliliit na bayan upang makapanayam ang mga taong nais magbahagi ng kanilang mga karanasan. Ilan lamang dito ay ang isang lola na diumano’y nanirahan ng matagal sa isang yungib na may bantang panganib na kumuha sa isa nilang kaibigan. Nariyan din ang salaysay ng mga taga lalawigan ukol sa isang lalaking bihasa sa pagtugis sa mga aswang at kasapi ng isang pangkat na tumutugis sa mga nasabing nilalang. Sa huli ay iibig ang lalaki sa isang magandang dilag na kanyang magiging asawa. Malalaman lamang niya sa huli na kailangan niyang mamili sa pagitan ng pag-ibig at tungkulin. Sari saring mga salaysay na ang naipon ni Arturo at balak niyang ilimbag ang mga ito sa isang aklat.

Agaw-Anino

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Mabubuo ang pagkakaibigan sa isang pangkat ng mga batang lalaki sa maliit na bayan ng San Pablo. Sina Arturo, Dennis, Maykel, Teod at Ron ay mga mag-aaral na nasa iisang baitang ng kanilang paaralan habang dalawang taon naman ang tanda nila sa pang-anim nilang kasapi na si Peklat. Puno ng kagaguhan ang kanilang kabataan, mula sa panlilinlang ng mga matatanda sa kanilang bayan hanggang sa pagsasalaysay ng mga kathang isip at kababalaghan na kanilang kinalilibangan. Isa na nga rito ay ang salaysay ni Art ukol sa isang matandang diumano ay aswang na naninirahan sa isang bundok malapit sa bahay ng kapatid ng kanyang ina sa lalawigan. Magtutungo ang magkakaibigan doon at makikituloy sa mga kamag-anak upang isakatapuran ang kanilang pakay na supilin ang aswang at iligtas ang mga taong bayan. Kabalbalan marahil subalit sa mga mata ng isang bata ay may mga bagay sa buhay na mahirap maunawaan pati na rin mga kamaliang habang buhay na mananatili sa kanilang mga gunita.

Brave New World

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The year is After Ford 632, or 2540 in the Gregorian calendar. London is part of a World State in which the traditional concepts of family, parenthood, and childbirth are no longer the norm. Instead, citizens are bioengineered. Embryos are assigned to the caste most appropriate for them and children are indoctrinated through sleep conditioning. Hatchery worker Lenina Crowne and psychologist Bernard Marx go on a holiday in a savage reservation somewhere in New Mexico where human beings used to the old ways are allowed to exist as if in a zoo. There they meet Linda and her son John. Linda went on vacation there a decade or two ago and got lost and left behind, eventually having to adapt to traditional human ways she wasn’t conditioned to understand. Bernard takes mother and son back with them to London where John learns to live that kind of life, also bringing with him his own views and ways, causing disruption among the population.

Children of Anguish and Anarchy

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Zélie is at the brink of victory, the crown of Orisha almost at hand, when an explosion knocks everyone out. Next thing she knows, she is held captive on a ship sailing for gods know where. She finds Inan housed in the next cell before she is taken by Icelandic speaking Skulls to their king. Baldyr wears a golden skull as a mask and holds three medallions, one of which he fuses onto Zélie’s breastbone. A ritual that will turn him into a god through the blood of the sun and moon is the end goal. Zélie’s blood is the sun’s; now he has to find the girl whose blood is the moon’s. To the south is the island empire of New Gaia where Mae’e is next in line to be the tribal elder linked to their goddess. Will she be the one to complete the elements of Baldyr’s ritual?

1984

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The year is 1984. Totalitarian superstate Oceania is at constant war. Sometimes with Eastasia. Sometimes with Eurasia. The specifics do not really matter because the past can be conveniently rewritten, literally, by a group of loyal members of the Outer Party. Winston Smith is one of those individuals. Stationed at the Ministry of Truth, he is in charge of rewriting historical records to match whatever the Party’s current opinion about certain issues happens to be. Life is so heavily monitored through telescreens and hidden microphones that even the slightest hint of dissent based on one’s facial expressions can be used to incriminate someone as being against the party. When Winston begins a secret love affair with the young Julia who maintains one of the ministry’s novel-churning mechanisms, they risk their lives and everything they have lived for so far for moments of non-conformity. Can they outwit Big Brother and get out of there alive?

Bagets: The Musical (Resorts World Manila)

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Almost done with junior year, five troublemakers are expelled and forced to find a new school where they can finish the final year of their high school education. Adie (Andres Muhlach) is infatuated with his mother’s friend who lives next door and spends most of his time with her thinking she is leading him on. Tonton (Milo Cruz) courts girls left and right but decides to go steady when he finds the one, not knowing fate has other plans for both of them. Topee (Jeff Moses) is the athletic friend in the bunch, focusing his efforts on martial arts to distract from his mother’s lack of presence in his life. Rich kid Arnel (KD Estrada) is forced to confront the comforts of his sheltered existence when he falls for a girl from a different social class. Gilbert (Tomas Rodriguez) deals with bullying for not yet being circumcised and makes it his raison d'être for the summer.

Les Miserables: World Tour Spectacular (GMG Productions)

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As part of Les Misérables’ 40th anniversary, a world tour is currently ongoing and will stop in Manila under GMG Productions for a month starting at the end of January until the first week of March. Argentine actor Geronimo Rauch will be playing Jean Valjean starring opposite Jeremy Secomb as Javert. Filipino theater veterans have also been cast in the show such as Rachelle Ann Go for the role of Fantine, Emily Bautista as Éponine, Red Concepcion as Thénardier and Broadway legend Lea Salonga as Madame Thénardier. Completing the cast are Will Callan as Marius, Lulu-Mae Pears as Cosette, Harry Chandler as Enjolras, and Earl Carpenter as the Bishop of Digne. All performances are being held at The Theater at Solaire and most of the shows have already been sold out since the concert was announced late last year. Disclaimer: this is the concert version of the musical, not the musical itself.

Rental Family

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Japan has served as home for American actor Phillip Vanderploeg (Brendan Fraser) for the last 7 years or so. Searching for an ever elusive break since his breakout toothpaste commercial during his first year in the country, he has since taken on trivial roles like “side American” or “token white guy” to make ends meet. One of such gigs introduces him to Shinji (Takehiro Hira) who owns a company called Rental Family. Together with his employees Aiko (Mari Yamamoto) and Kota (Kimura Bun), the trio take acting to a whole new level by playing whatever role, in real life, that their clients ask them to. Phillip is hesitant to join at first but sees its potential in helping people. Among his first assignments are the roles of “Father” to a half-Caucasian half-Japanese girl named Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman) and a “Magazine Writer” interviewing the retired and almost senile actor Kikuo Hasegawa (Akira Emoto).

The Housemaid

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Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) should be in prison for 15 years but gets out on parole in 10, the conditions of which include having a stable full-time job. With career prospects for an ex-convict looking dim, she fakes her CV and applies for a housemaid position at the Winchester residence. Nina (Amanda Seyfried) seems to be the typical suburban wife: wealthy, unhinged, and appears to have a lot of secrets. When Millie is told that she’d be contacted if her application is successful, she dismisses the possibility of getting hired and is about to move on when Nina calls a day later asking her to start as soon as possible. Thinking she hit the jackpot, Millie meets: Cece (Indiana Elle), Nina’s aloof daughter; Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), the filthy rich pin-up husband; and Enzo (Michele Morrone), the weird gardener. Nina’s psychotic tendencies surface almost immediately and she makes Millie’s life a living hell. Things get worse when Millie starts sleeping with Andrew.

Anaconda (2025)

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Wedding videographer Doug McCallister (Jack Black), TV extra Ronald “Griff” Griffen Jr. (Paul Rudd), lawyer Claire Simmons (Thandiwe Newton), and their friend Kenny Trent (Steve Zahn) are not satisfied with the way their lives have turned out. They had lofty dreams as childhood buddies dreaming of Hollywood fame as wannabe filmmakers, but life had other plans. When Griff informs everyone that he somehow got the rights to the Anaconda franchise, their life crises give way to a wild adventure at the Amazon rainforests of Brazil. Securing a meager loan, they set out to film an indie reboot of Anaconda. Snake handler Santiago Braga (Selton Mello) lends them his pet anaconda which Griff accidentally kills in one of the scenes. They venture deep into the jungle to find a replacement, but instead the replacement finds them in the form of an even bigger anaconda thirsting for human flesh. Will they get out of there alive?

Love You So Bad

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College student Savannah Aquino (Bianca de Vera) has a rather notorious reputation at school, buoyed by her popularity and promiscuity, even though she has become hot topic lately due to her breakup with boyfriend LA Dolores (Dustin Yu), who is popular in his own way for maintaining a bad boy image. Both of them come from broken families: she, living with her aunt because her mother abandoned her to start a new family; he, perpetually hated by the man he has always known as his father because he isn’t really his son. Enter Victor Alvarez (Will Ashley), the overachiever council president who gets friendzoned by Vanna and agrees to be her pretend boyfriend when LA ghosts her for weeks. As the two fly to his hometown to work on their thesis, they get to know one another even more and feelings start to develop. Why not just make it real?

I'mPerfect

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Jessica (Krystal Go) is attending a school for individuals with Down Syndrome. Most of her friends are her schoolmates and her world revolves around school, her part-time job waiting tables at a cafe, and her home life with her single mom Norma (Sylvia Sanchez). Her father Arman (Joey Marquez) abandoned them when she was born but is now trying to worm himself back into their lives, wanting to make amends. Sparks fly with the arrival of new student Jiro (Earl Amaba), the elder son in a family of doctors. His mother Lizel (Lorna Tolentino) and father Dan (Tonton Gutierrez) as well as his younger brother Ryan (Zaijian Jaranilla) are all supportive despite his reluctance to go to school and socialize after years of being homeschooled. As Jessica and Jiro fall in love, they elope and head over to Mindanao where his previous nanny Claring (Janice de Belen) resides. Although hesitant, she takes them in without letting their respective parents’ knowledge.

Manila's Finest

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1969. The Manila Police District crew is known to many as “Manila’s Finest” or an epitome of public service dedicated to peace keeping within the city’s borders. Captain Homer Magtibay (Piolo Pascual) is a family man; a loving husband to his wife Yoly (Rica Peralejo) and father to Agnes (Ashtine Olviga), who gets entangled in student rallies demanding change from the current administration. Magtibay’s partner in the force is first lieutenant Billy Ojeda (Enrique Gil) who is accused of frustrated homicide in the aftermath of a Mendiola rally that leaves battered bodies on both sides in its wake. Things get more complicated when the Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command or METROCOM, through officer Danilo Abad (Cedrick Juan), starts encroaching on the MPD’s mandate by snatching jurisdiction over criminals and setting them free based on their usefulness as assets. As changes occur within the force, the impending threat of Martial Law looms in the shadows.

Unmarry

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Attorney Jacqueline Lambridas (Eugene Domingo) is an influencer lawyer who specializes in annulment cases. A scheduling mishap brings two of her clients together. Her cousin Ivan (Zanjoe Marudo) is asking her to represent him as his defense counsel in an annulment case filed against him by his wife Maya (Solenn Heussaff) who is a prominent TV journalist and with whom he shares a son. Pastry chef Celine (Angelica Panganiban) is filing for annulment from her elitist snob husband Stephen (Tom Rodriguez) who controls all of her finances and makes life difficult for her as punishment for her legal decisions. All parties meet up at court as Jackie explains, through a series of online videos, how annulment in the Philippines works, the steps required to file, the legal basis for it, as well as what happens next. Meanwhile, what begins as emotional support for each other between Ivan and Celine blossoms into something more intimate.