Director:Chito S.

Roño

Writers:Lualhati Bautista (novel)

Lualhati Bautista (screenplay)
more

Cast

(Cast overview, first billed only)

Vilma Santos ... Amanda Bartolome
Christopher De Leon ... Julian Bartolome

Piolo Pascual ... Jules Bartolome

Marvin Agustin ... Emmanuel Bartolome

Kris Aquino ... Student Leader

Ana Capri ... Mara

Dimples Romana ... Evelyn

Jhong Hilario ... Willy

Carlos Agassi ... Isagani Bartolome

Danilo Barrios ... Jason Bartolome

Carlo Muñoz ... Rene

Tirso Cruz III ... Evelyn's Father

Orestes Ojeda ... Dr. Rodrigo

John Wayne Sace ... Bingo Bartolome

Marianne de la Riva ... Evelyn's Mother

I really felt the seventies in this film. Too bad, this one didn't qualify for an Oscar Award
in 2002. But it doesn't matter at all. This is really and excellent film. Vilma Santos once
again acted like a superior actress who kbows no bounds. Christopher de Leon was okay.
All their children did a good job acting. I also admire the make up designers of the movie
who made everything fit to the seventies: the house, the furniture, the clothes, the
hairstyle, the fashion and etc. I also liked the ending as well and the soundtrack song. It
was really touching.People who like based-on-history films should really watch this one.

Dekada '70 is the story of a family caught in the

middle of the tumultuous decade of the 1970's, which chronicles a middle-
class Filipino family who, over the space of a decade, become aware of the
political policies that have ultimately led to repression and a state of martial
law. Vilma Santos stars as Amanda, who realizes the implications of living
within a dictatorship after sorting out the contradictory reactions of her
husband and five sons. Julian, her husband, supports his eldest son's efforts
to rail against the government while simultaneously refusing to condone
Amanda's wish to find a job. Her first son (Piolo Pascual)was an activist
whose concerns is about the freedom of our country,the second son (Carlos
Agassi) is in the US navy. The third son (Marvin Augustin) writes illegal
political exposes. The fourth (Danilo Barrios) fell victim to a corrupt police
department, and her youngest (John W. Sace) is still a boy. The
oppressiveness of the Marcos regime made people become more radical.
This shaping of the decade are all witnessed by the female character,
Amanda Bartolome, a mother of five boys. While Amanda's sons grow, form
individual beliefs and lead different lives, Amanda reaffirms her identity to
state her stand as a Filipino citizen, mother and woman. Dekada '70
introduces the new generation of Filipino readers to the story of a family of a
particular time in Philippine history. It tells about,A mother raising Her child
in times were there is no assurance.

Si Amanda Bartolome (Vilma Santos) ay isang babaeng nagsisikap matunton

at maunawaan ang tunay na kahulugan ng pagiging isang babae sa gitna ng
masalimuot na kalagayan ng bansa noong dekada '70 sa ilalim ng Batas
Militar. Siya ay kumikilos bilang isang ina (sa limang anak na pulos lalaki) at
asawa ayon sa dikta ng lipunan at ng asawa niyang si Julian (Christopher de
Leon). Bagama't tradisyonal, umiiral sa pamilyang Bartolome ang kalayaan sa
pagpapahayag ng damdamin kung kaya't lumaki ang kanilang mga anak na
mulat ang kamalayan sa nangyayari sa lipunan. Dahil dito'y sumali sa kilusang
makakaliwa ang kanilang panganay na si Jules (Piolo Pascual), naging makata
at manunulat naman si Emman (Marvin Agustin), at nahilig sa musikang rock n
roll si Jason (Danilo Barrios). Si Gani (Carlos Agassi) naman ay malayang
pinasok ang pagiging US Navy bagama't taliwas ito sa paniniwala ng mga
kapatid. Nanatiling matatag ang pamilya Bartolome sa kabila ng napakaraming
pagsubok ng panahon. Dito rin nasubok ang katatagan ng pagsasama nina
Amanda at Julian, kung saan si Amanda ay nagnais na matunton ang sarili
bilang isang babae, malayo sa dikta ng lipunan at ng asawa.

Ang Dekada '70 ay isang mahusay na adaptasyon sa pelikula ng nobela nitong

may parehong titulo. Napanatili ang kaluluwa ng nobela sa pelikula sa kabila
ng limitasyon ng pelikula bilang isang audio-visual na medium. Marahil,
nakatulong ng malaki ang pagkakaroon ng iisang manunulat lamang. Naging
maayos ang takbo ng pelikula na tulad sa nobela nitong nahati sa mga taon ng
dekada '70. Mahusay ang pagkakaganap ng mga pangunahing tauhan
(maliban kay Carlos Agassi) na nakapagbigay hininga sa mga tauhang noo'y
nababasa lamang. Naibalik ng pelikula ang larawan ng dekada '70 sa mga
eksena nitong nagpapakita ng mga demonstrasyon, protesta at rallies na tunay
na nangyari noong panahon na iyon. Ang musika at tunog ay madalas na akma
at nagpapaigting sa emosyong nais ipahatid ng pelikula. Naging mahina
lamang ang disenyong pamproduksiyon ng pelikula na hindi naging masusi sa
make-up, at kasuotan ng mga tauhan sa pawang hindi parating umaangkop sa
panahon.

AngDekada '70 ay isang pelikulang puno ng kahulugan, lalim at pagtatanong

sa tunay na kahulugan at kalagayan ng kababaihan sa lipunan. Bagama't
maliwanag na ang manunulat na si Lualhati Bautista ay nagmumula sa
feministang pananaw, hindi naging radikal ang kanyang pagtrato sa isyu ng
kababaihan. Sa halip mas pinaigting pa ng pelikula ang kahalagan ng papel na
ginagampanan ng isang ina sa pamilya. Mamumulat ang mga magulang na
makakapanood ng Dekada '70 sa tunay na papel na kanilang ginagamapanan
sa mga anak. Sa kabilang banda'y mas mauunawaan ng mga anak ang
kanilang mga magulang na nagsusumikap na maging gabay sa anumang
kanilang naisin sa buhay. Sinasabi ng pelikula na walang perpektong magulang
o anak sa anumang panahon, ngunit mananatiling matatag ang isang
pamilyang may tunay na pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit hindi lamang sa
kanilang sarili kundi maging sa ibang tao at sa bayan.

(Nirebyu: Disyembre 27, 2002)

Dekada 70
DIRECTOR: Chito Rono

WRITER: Lualhati Bautista

CASTS OF CHARACTERS:

• Vilma Santos - Amanda Bartolome

• Christopher de Leon - Julian Bartolome
• Piolo Pascual - Jules Bartolome
• Marvin Agustin - Emmanuel Bartolome
• Carlos Agassi - Isagani Bartolome
• Danilo Barrios - Jason Bartolome
• Kris Aquino - Student Leader
• Ana Capri - Mara
• Dimples Romana - Evelyn
• Jhong Hilario - Willy
• Carlo Muñoz - Rene
• Tirso Cruz III - Evelyn's Father
• Orestes Ojeda - Dr. Rodrigo
• John Wayne Sace - Bingo Bartolome
• Marianne de la Riva - Evelyn's Mother
• Manjo del Mundo - policeman
• Cacai Bautista – rallyist

SETTINGS:

This series of events happened after the bombing of Plaza Miranda, the
suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, the proclamation of Martial Law
and the random arrests of political prisoners.

PLOT:

Dekada '70 is the story of a family caught in the

middle of the tumultuous decade of the 1970's, which chronicles a middle-
class Filipino family who, over the space of a decade, become aware of the
political policies that have ultimately led to repression and a state of martial
law. Vilma Santos stars as Amanda, who realizes the implications of living
within a dictatorship after sorting out the contradictory reactions of her
husband and five sons. Julian, her husband, supports his eldest son's efforts
to rail against the government while simultaneously refusing to condone
Amanda's wish to find a job. Her first son (Piolo Pascual)was an activist
whose concerns is about the freedom of our country,the second son (Carlos
Agassi) is in the US navy. The third son (Marvin Augustin) writes illegal
political exposes. The fourth (Danilo Barrios) fell victim to a corrupt police
department, and her youngest (John W. Sace) is still a boy. The
oppressiveness of the Marcos regime made people become more radical.
This shaping of the decade are all witnessed by the female character,
Amanda Bartolome, a mother of five boys. While Amanda's sons grow, form
individual beliefs and lead different lives, Amanda reaffirms her identity to
state her stand as a Filipino citizen, mother and woman. Dekada '70
introduces the new generation of Filipino readers to the story of a family of a
particular time in Philippine history. It tells about,A mother raising Her child
in times were there is no assurance.

MORAL OF THE MOVIE:

It’s a film that full of meanings,and question about the standing of the
Filipino women during Martial Law.Personally by watching this film,I feel
so much engrossed and interested ,because its historical and really happened
nowadays.I got inspired of the role of Vilma Santos as a “meek”
mother,patient and understanding one,whose latet,stand with her dignity not
because she’s a mother,but because of Her “voice for freedom” as a
person,which no one could measure and explain how it feels to be
yourself,and do good “deeds” for our country.