By Bernardo Bernardo
It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and we grabbed it!
From the day we heard Meryl Streep was the designated president of the Jury for the 66th Berlinale, I knew that all the members of HELE SA HIWAGANG HAPIS contingent secretly harbored a desire to at least cop a Selfie from a chance meeting with the winningest Hollywood Diva.
Admittedly, there were Pinoy superstars in our own midst (John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual), celebrated actresses (Cherie Gil, Angel Aquino, and Alessandra de Rossi), well respected character actors (Hazel Orencio, Susan Africa Manikan and Joel Saracho) and, yours truly, a come-backing senior actor after a 12-year absence from the Philippine entertainment scene (BB).
Hele cast on Berlinale Red Carpet.
Well, to varying degrees, most of the HELE Team members were a few steps short of being stalkers, ready to play the role of unabashed, avid fans to the hilt at the Berlinale. Except maybe the more sedate likes of film director Lav Diaz, producers Bianca Balbuena and Paul Soriano, and Star Cinema’s Erwin Blanca and Joyce Bernal.
Truth is, we were all happy to just be breathing the same air as Ms. Streep, content to be taking long-distance blurred photos as she breezed through the red carpet while we watched from the second floor foyer of the Berlinale Palast. However, the Universe conspired!
As the Heavens delightfully allowed, Hele won a Silver Bear (the Philippines’ first at the Berlin International Film Festival since its inception 66 years ago!) —and at the Awards Finale, the Winners were asked to gather center stage. It took little prompting from Lav Diaz to wave to us to come over before the whole Hele Team rushed joyfully onstage.
Once on the stage apron, without any hesitation, our producer Paul Soriano took the entire Philippine contingent directly to Meryl Streep. I am embarrassed to admit that I was so star-struck that all I could muster that would pass as my “Hello” was: “Miss Streep, you’re the favorite actress of the Philippines!” I nearly died. I know. I know. It sounded dumb but at least it was sincere.
Meryl Streep and Bernardo Bernardo.
Then, surprisingly, her eyes lit up with recognition– and I am hazarding a guess that she remembered my Tikbalang character from Hele– and as we shook hands she told me: “You were amazing!”
Boing!!!! C”,) that was my chocolate high for the year!
I mean, from then on we were still holding hands when she turned to the rest of the Hele cast and said, “You were all wonderful!” I mean, how do you forget a moment like that?
CLOSER WITH CLIVE OWEN
At the post-awards party, the jury gave the Hele Team a standing ovation. Ms. Streep approached the group, and told Hazel Orencio and Susan Africa that they looked “beautiful” and that the film was “fantastic” and that it “rearranged the molecules of her mind.”
Ms. Streep confided that the long scenes allowed her to appreciate the changes of emotions in the actors’ faces. Far from being weary after watching an eight-hour film, she confided to Lav Diaz that she felt drawn into the film, where she became part of the action and the action became a part of her, just like films used to do when she first started work in cinema. She said she felt sad that that kind of film experience has changed though time.
Clive Owen and Bernardo Bernardo.
Experiencing euphoria firsthand, we were in a delightful daze mostly, during dinner. Content to just watch Meryl Streep and Clive Owens interact with the other international personages in the exclusive dinner party.
Actually, Lav Diaz, Paul Soriano, John Lloyd and I were arrived fashionably late at the party, having come from the requisite Berlinale Winners Press Conference with international media and then a round of radio interviews.
Cherie Gil and Angel Aquino were also late after making a dress change stop at Movenpick Hotel, the Team Hele camp.
And this was when the Clive Owen “intimate” encounter occurred.
The Tikbalang Team (Cherie Gil, Angel Aquino and BB) was by then eyeing the possibility of a photo with the darkly handsome Hollywood hunk. Well, Angel and Cherie, mostly. But I was not one to say “No.” So, we got our two-shots and then daring Cherie asked Clive if she can have a kiss. She could and she did. Angel did the same. Got hers.
So, why not me? Well, with a smile, Clive Owen said, “Yes, of course.” And we did. Three times. Because the first two shots were blurred. I was so embarrassed. Char!
BERLINALE.
Mr. Owen was so cool. He enjoyed the Hele Team so much that he wanted us to join the after-party party at Cookies Bar (saying he was done with jury duty!). Of course, it turned out it was the Crackers Bar, as Cherie pointed out. But we were too tired anyway. And there was no way to top the Silver Bear and Meryl Streep and Clive Owen in one night. Enough memories of Berlin to last a lifetime
It is important to note that it was amazing that Lav was treated like a Major Rock Star in Europe: with autograph seekers hounding him; media chasing after him with cameras flashing, microphones and video cameras at the ready; directorial peers and producers in international cinema going out of their way to meet him; and, critics hanging to his every word, savoring his philosophy, appreciating his personal language in cinema.
Somehow, this European reality contrasts strongly to a great degree a cinematic variation of a well-worn biblical phrase: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country . . .”
Still, it was Philippine Pride Night. As touching as that lone Filipino that the Hele Team waved to after the Awards Ceremony, rain-drenched and cold at the red carpet, shouting “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!”
ETIHAD crew.
Soon enough, were sky high again as we flew back to the Philippines, the day after the Berlinale Awards.
If the warm welcome of the Pinoy cabin crew of Etihad airlines is any indication, we will get an even warmer welcome in Manila. The galley of the Etihad plane became a perfect setting for an impromptu party for TEAM HELE where the mostly Pinoy cabin crew hosted dessert and bubblies for the still euphoric group –bringing home the Berlinale Silver Bear!
The crew even baked a Congratulations Cake on board! It was truly a party on the fly!
