Dead Sure
| 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 |
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]
Plot
[edit]By 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
[edit]Dead 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
[edit]When, 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
[edit]Jema 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.