Segurista (International title: Dead Sure) is a 1996 Philippine neo-noir drama film directed by Tikoy Aguiluz. The film was co-written by Aguiluz, Jose Lacaba, and Amado Lacuesta and stars Michelle Aldana as the title role.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Segurista was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Singapore International Film Festival.[8] In its home market, the MTRCB did not approve this motion picture for public viewing, "X-rated",[9] but later approved it with cuts for Philippine theaters.[10]
| Dead Sure | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Original title | Segurista |
| Directed by | Tikoy Aguiluz |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Produced by | Eric Cuatico |
| Starring | Michelle Aldana |
| Cinematography | Jun Dalawis |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Jessie Lasaten |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Neo Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
Plot
editBy day, Karen Fernandez (Michelle Aldana) is a sales agent for an insurance company. She constantly meets sales targets set by her company and is considered as their top agent. By night, she covertly works as a guest relations officer (GRO), which she uses to draw her daytime clients to buy into her insurance product. All of her activities day and night are for one reason: securing the future of her family. Amidst the temptation of falling in love with her clients, Karen is focused on working hard for the money.
A tragedy occurs when a night of having fun went wrong. Resisting the advances of her friend's lover, she flees by riding a taxi. But the taxi driver himself had other plans as he decides to bring Karen to a lahar-infested area and satisfy his lust on her before killing her off. Her death served as a catalyst for change as her beneficiaries finally receive the fruits of her labor.[11]
Cast
edit- Michelle Aldana as Karen Fernandez
- Gary Estrada as Sonny Reyes
- Ruby Moreno as Ruby Dimagiba
- Albert Martinez as Jake
- Julio Diaz as Eddie
- Pen Medina as Pepe Moreno
- Eddie Rodriguez as Lawyer
- Liza Lorena as Mrs. Librada
- Suzette Ranillo as Brian
- Teresa Loyzaga as Grace
- Anthony Castelo as Technocrat
- Roy de Guzman as Male Customer
- Manjo del Mundo as Caloy
- Celsar Bendigo as Joemar
- Evelyn Vargas as Candy
- Melisse Santiago as Winnie
- Vangie Labalan as Aling Choleng
- Pocholo Montes as Club Manager
Awards
editDead Sure won seven awards in the 21st Gawad Urian Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director,[12] Best Supporting Actor — Albert Martinez[13] — Best Screenplay and Best Editing — Edgardo “Boy” Viñarao and Mirana Medina-Bhunjun.[8]
The film was selected as the Philippines entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 69th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[14][15]
Continued interest and influence
editWhen, at the end of the decade, eleven Filipino film critics rated the best films of the '90s for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Segurista was ranked second.[10]
Academia
editJema Pamintuan of Ateneo de Manila University, commented on how Segurista portrays, against a background of increasing female participation in the Philippine economy, the application of game-theoretic and probabilistic concepts for the Filipina struggling to manage the risk she faces in an economy characterized by a fluctuating economic and socio-political environment.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Grand Opening Today!". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 13 March 1996. p. 15.
Rated B by the Film Ratings Board. Strictly for adults only!
- ^ Vera, Noel (9 March 1996). "The Dirtiest Movie of the Year". Pinoy Pop Culture. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ Deutsch, Andre (2002). Variety International Film Guide. Variety. pp. 251–252. Retrieved 29 May 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ Sampung Taong Sine: 1990-1999. National Commission for Culture and the Arts. 2002. p. 33. ISBN 9789718140260. Retrieved 29 May 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ Red, Isah (2 February 1996). "Is Mel Tiangco in Trouble with ABS-CBN?". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. p. 32. Retrieved 29 May 2022 – via Google News.
- ^ Japitana, Norma (11 March 1996). "The X Factor". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. p. 31. Retrieved 29 May 2022 – via Google News.
- ^ Red, Isah (15 March 1996). "Bum Steer". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. p. 32. Retrieved 29 May 2022 – via Google News.
- ^ a b Salterio, Leah C. "In a prominent family, Tikoy Aguiluz made a name for himself in the world of cinema". Philippine Star. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "This gets an X? (Segurista)". BusinessWorld. Manila: The Financial Times Limited: 23. 8 March 1996. ISSN 0116-3930. ProQuest 234044012.
- ^ a b "Opinion: An immodest proposal". BusinessWorld. Manila: The Financial Times Limited: 1. 29 October 1999. ISSN 0116-3930. ProQuest 233939262.
- ^ "Dead Sure". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ "Director Tikoy Aguiluz Has Died". Esquire. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Brennt Eusebio, Aaron. "IN PHOTOS: Career highlights of Albert Martinez". www.gmanetwork.com. GMA Network. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- ^ "39 Countries Hoping for Oscar Nominations". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 13 November 1996. Archived from the original on 9 February 1999. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Pamintuan, Jema (1 May 2011). "Risk Management, Probability, and the Theory of Games in Segurista (Dead Sure) and Kubrador (The Bet Collector)". Positions. 19 (2): 525–549. doi:10.1215/10679847-1331814. Retrieved 3 March 2024.