Patikim ng Pinya (Tagalog: Let Me Taste the Pineapple) is a 1996 erotic comedy-drama film directed by Rico Mambo from a screenplay co-written by Humilde Roxas, Salvador Royales, and Nerdie Cruz. Produced by Seiko Films, the movie follows Myra, a pineapple seller desired by men around her.
At the time of the film's showing, the double-meaning title Patikim ng Pinya got the attention of the government agency Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
In Tagalog ribald discourse, pinya can be interpreted by p___ niya (Tagalog: her p____). P___ refers to female genitalia.
PLOT
Myra and Loretta, a fruit supplier and her younger sister, have lived together ever since they were abandoned by their parents. Force to become the breadwinner, Myra supported Loretta's education.
Their uncle is a law-school dropout called Attorney. Although the sisters do not live with him, Attorney serves as their father figure and trusted adviser.
To attract customers, Myra often relies on her beauty and charm, even allowing some men to ogle or touch her. Loretta strongly disapproves of this behavior and frequently clashes with her sister over it.
Their conflict worsens when Myra visits Loretta's school to pay her tuition. Wearing revealing clothing, she attracts unwanted attention from nearly every man on campus, from the principal to the students.
The female teachers are scandalized, and Loretta is embarrassed when a teacher reprimands her because of the disturbance Myra has caused. The incident leads to another heated argument between the sisters at home.
Meanwhile, Loretta is being courted by Edgar, who constantly pressures her into having a sexual relationship. Despite his persistence, she repeatedly refuses.
One morning, Edgar visits the sisters' house looking for Loretta. While Loretta is in the bathroom, Edgar waits in the living room. Suddenly, Myra screams when a lizard falls on her while she is wrapped only in a towel.
Edgar rushes to rescue Myra, and Loretta arrives just in time to witness the scene. Misinterpreting what she sees, Loretta becomes even more resentful toward her sister.
A few days later, Loretta goes to Edgar's house and attempts to give herself to him. Although Edgar hesitates at first, he eventually gives in. However, their intimate moment is interrupted when Edgar's mother unexpectedly returns home from the market.
Elsewhere, Juanito lives with his partner, Cynthia, a beautician. Cynthia shoulders nearly all of their household expenses while Juanito remains unemployed. She eventually loses patience and throws him out of the house.
While wandering around aimlessly, Juanito comes across Myra struggling to repair her jeep. He offers to help and manages to get the vehicle running by pushing it and giving the engine a sharp kadyot or jolt. Myra assumes the favor is free, but Juanito demands one hundred pesos. The two part ways without even introducing themselves.
Carrying gifts, Juanito later returns to Cynthia in hopes of reconciling, but she still refuses to take him back. Left with nowhere to go, he resumes his wandering.
One night, Myra is driving with Attorney when they accidentally hit an unconscious man on the road. When they approach him, they discover that the victim is Juanito. They bring him to Myra's home and learn that he has developed amnesia.
While caring for him, Myra begins calling him Kadyot, inspired by the way he had repaired her jeep. On her uncle's suggestion, she pretends to be his wife to provide him with a sense of identity while he suffers from memory loss. They also tell him that he lost his memory after being beaten by local thugs.
As time passes, Myra gradually falls in love with Kadyot, especially after he defends her from harassers. Unbeknownst to her, Loretta also develops feelings for him. She attempts to seduce Kadyot, but Myra intervenes, leading to yet another bitter quarrel between the sisters.
After their argument, Loretta goes back to Edgar. This time, their relationship finally becomes physical.
While all this is happening, Cynthia continues searching for Juanito. Accompanying her is Paolo, a devoted admirer who steadily becomes her source of support.
One day, Myra decides to examine Kadyot's belongings. She discovers his true identity as Juanito and immediately visits Cynthia's home to learn more. However, she arrives only to find Cynthia leaving for America with Paolo.
Back at Myra's house, Loretta once again tries to seduce Kadyot. When Myra catches them in a compromising situation, she angrily throws Loretta out. In retaliation, Loretta reveals the truth about Kadyot's identity and exposes Myra's deception.
Shocked and confused, Kadyot leaves the house. While wandering the streets, he is struck by a tricycle and taken to the hospital. When he regains consciousness, all of his memories as Juanito return.
After recovering, Juanito returns to the home he once shared with Cynthia, only to discover that new tenants now live there. From them, he learns how desperately Cynthia searched for him before finally giving up.
In time, Myra and Loretta reconcile and mend their fractured relationship.
One day, Myra's jeep breaks down yet again. While lying beneath the vehicle and struggling with the exhaust pipe, a man approaches and offers to help. Smiling, he remarks, "Maybe it just needs one little kadyot."
Myra looks up and realizes it is Juanito. Overjoyed, she embraces him and insists that they are husband and wife. Juanito, bewildered, points out that they have only met twice.
Still, Myra refuses to back down. Finally, Juanito asks playfully, "If I'm really your husband, then what's my name?"
Without hesitation, Myra replies:
"Kadyot!"
MAIN CAST
Rosanna Roces ... Myra
Leandro Baldemor ... Juanito / Kadyot
Natasha Ledesma ... Loretta
Dencio Padilla ... Attorney
Carol Dauden ... Cynthia
Anton Bernardo ... Edgar
Joey Galvez ... Paolo
SELECTED CREW
Direction ... Rico Mambo
Story and Screenplay ... Humilde Roxas, Salvador Royales, and Nerdie Cruz
Cinematography ... Felizardo Bailen
Production Designer ... Raymond Bajarias
Editing ... Ferren Salumbides
Musical Direction ... Bienvenido Medina Jr.
No comments:
Post a Comment