Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita

Aishite Imasu 1941 (from the Japanese 愛しています meaning I Love You; Filipino title Mahal Kita 1941, “Mahal Kita” also meaning I love You) is a drama, romance, and war movie released in Philippines in 2004 and is a story of love, betrayal and honor in wartime set in the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines (1941–1945) during World War II. It stars Judy Ann Santos, Raymart Santiago, Jay Manalo and Dennis Trillo. It is directed by Joel Lamangan. It is an official entry to the 30th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita
Directed byJoel Lamangan
Written byRicardo Lee
Starring
Production
company
BAS Films
Distributed byRegal Entertainment Inc.
Release date
  • December 25, 2004 (2004-12-25)
Running time
107 minutes
LanguageFilipino
Japanese
English
Budget₱75 million
Box office₱26.3 million

Plot

The date is December 1941, and the simple folks of the quiet town of San Nicolas are unaware that war is nearing upon them. Inya (Judy Ann Santos) is a lovely young lady who had just married her childhood sweetheart Edilberto (Raymart Santiago) and they're excited about starting a new family. Ignacio "Igna" Basa (Dennis Trillo) is Inya's best friend, a transgender woman who has been in love with the handsome Edilberto for years. Ignacio falls for Ichiru Hamaguchi (Jay Manalo) a Japanese Army official who returns his affection, but becomes torn between fulfilling his duty to his country and his love for Ichiru.

The arrival of the Japanese throws the town into chaos, days after the Japanese air raid in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7 - which marked the start of the war. Meanwhile, on December 8, Japanese air bombings included Manila, Baguio, Davao, Iba and Clark fields to signal the Japanese invasion to the Philippines.

But Edilberto, Inya and Ignacio aren't the only ones the war will change forever. Traitorous Japanese interpreter and local collaborator Maura (Angelu de Leon), strong-willed Tiyang Mabel (Jacklyn Jose), tough guy Anton (TJ Trinidad), and pure-hearted Julia (Iya Villania) also get caught in the winds of the war, and find themselves doing things they never thought they'd do... all for the hope of living and dying another day.

Starting on December 1941, the guerrilla leader, Captain Ediberto Manalang (Raymart Santiago) was named Commander Berto, and was supported by other local guerrilla forces in the town of San Nicolas during the Fall of the Philippines. Meanwhile, battles between the Japanese and USAFFE troops ends in the Battle of Bataan on 1942 and the Bataan Death March begins on April 9 of that year. 76,000 surrendered Filipino and American troops became Prisoners of War under Japanese hands. The defeated troops were forced to march from Bataan to Tarlac. Anton joined the guerrilla movement. Ignacio became the movement's spy inside the Japanese forces, catching Maura's suspicion. Anytime Kapitan Berto attacks a Japanese patrol, the latter burns a village and executes suspected guerrilla members under direction from Maura. Inya is also suspected as a Japanese spy and tortured by the guerrillas.

She revealed Ignacio's secret to Hiroshi, who in turn told Ichiru. At first, he did not believe. Until he suffered a nightmare that he was holding his father's blood in front of the Americans. He tried to make love with Igna, but the latter refused. Ichiru revealed that he knew Ignacio is transgender and he never cared about it as long as he loves Igna.

A few years later, local guerrilla forces are led by Captain Inya Marasingan-Manalang, who replaced Commander Berto in 1943 after Edilberto died during a Japanese attack on their camp. The Japanese retaliated with brutality, hanging the mayor and others. Anton and Igna's transgender friend, Edna, were released at Igna's request. A guerrilla raid sealed Igna, Ichiru and Akihiro's fates. As Igna returned to the camp after he warned Inya of the raid, he was caught along with Ichiru by Maura and Hiroshi. Igna was beaten. Ichiru escaped along with Akihiro and Igna. They returned to Tiyang Mabel's house, where Akihiro and Ichiru committed seppuku. Igna again was arrested by Maura and Hiroshi. The former was tortured until unconscious. Kapitan Berto (Inya) raided the town hall, rescued the mayor and Igna and eliminated the Japanese garrison, at the cost of several resistance members, including Anton who was shot by Hiroshi, until the latter was also killed. As soon as Inya and Igna got outside, Maura and her backup arrived. As she shoots Inya, Igna uses his body as cover and took the fatal shot. Inya's men open fired on Maura's vehicle, killing her and the Japanese inside. Igna's last words said he was a traitor, so he deserved a traitor's death.

Many decades and many coercions later, Inya told the whole truth about what happened during the time. As the mayor and the historian discusses future plans, including a memorial for the victims, she left them.

Cast

Awards

Year Organization Category Name of Recipient
2005Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and SciencesBest Supporting ActorDennis Trillo
Best Production DesignJoey Luna
Best SoundRamon Reyes
Film Academy Of The PhilippinesBest PictureRegal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions
Best DirectorJoel Lamangan
Best ActorDennis Trillo
Best Supporting ActorJay Manalo
Best EditingMarya Ignacio
Best Production DesignJoey Luna
Gawad Pasado3rd Best PictureRegal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions
Best ActorDennis Trillo
Best Supporting ActorJay Manalo
PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest ActorDennis Trillo
Best New Movie ActorDennis Trillo
ENPRESS Golden ScreenBreakthrough Performance by an ActorDennis Trillo
Gawad TanglawBest Supporting ActorDennis Trillo
Young Critics CircleBest Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting RoleDennis Trillo
2004Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines[1]3rd Best PictureRegal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions
Best Supporting ActorDennis Trillo
Most Gender Sensitive FilmRegal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions

Nominations

Year Organization Category Name of Recipient
2005Filipino Academy of Arts and SciencesBest PictureAishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita
2005Filipino Academy of Arts and SciencesBest DirectorJoel Lamangan
2005Filipino Academy of Arts and SciencesBest Supporting ActressAngelu de Leon
2005Gawad UrianBest Supporting ActorDennis Trillo
2005Film Academy Of The PhilippinesBest Sound
2005Film Academy Of The PhilippinesBest Musical Scoring
2005Gawad PasadoBest ActressJudy Ann Santos
2005PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest PictureAishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita
2005PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest DirectorJoel Lamangan
2005PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest ActressJudy Ann Santos
2005PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest Original Screenplay
2005PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest Editor
2005PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest Production Designer
2005PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest Original Theme Song
2005ENPRESS Golden ScreenBest Sound
2005ENPRESS Golden ScreenBest Original Song
2004Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines[1]Best ActressJudy Ann Santos
Best ActorRaymart Santiago

References

  1. "Metro Manila Film Festival:2004". IMDB. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
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