Wanted: Perfect Mother
| Wanted: Perfect Mother | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Lino Brocka |
| Screenplay by | Lino Brocka |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Emilia Blas |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Conrado Baltazar |
| Edited by | Felizardo Santos |
| Music by | D'Amarillo |
| Distributed by | Lea Productions |
Release date |
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Running time | 128 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Languages |
|
Wanted: Perfect Mother is a 1970 Philippine musical melodrama film written and directed by Lino Brocka in his feature directorial debut. It was based on the comics serial by Mars Ravelo. The film starred Dante Rivero, Boots Anson-Roa, and Liza Lorena.[1] It was remade in 1996 starring Regine Velasquez and Christopher de Leon.
Plot summary
A wealthy couple, Dante and Elsa, hires a governess, Carla, to care for their four children. Carla establishes a rapport with the children and Dante, which leads to rumors about an affair. After Carla leaves, Elsa dies in a car accident. Dante decides to remarry and get his children a new mother, with Carla soon emerging as the leading choice, until the head servant Lucia schemes to turn the children against her.[2]
Cast
- Dante Rivero as Dante
- Boots Anson-Roa as Carla
- Liza Lorena as Elsa
- Caridad Sanchez as Lucia
- Mary Walter as Linda’s Mother
- Etang Discher as Magna
- Eddie Mercado as Ferdie
- Rebecca Domingo as Ms. Mabintog
- Gina Alajar as Dorina
- Ariosto Reyes Jr. as Rex
- Arnold Gamboa as Zaldy
- Snooky Serna as Neneng
- Chiquita Trapaga sa Linda
- Jay Ilagan as man on the beach (uncredited)
- Hilda Koronel as Ms. Campos (uncredited)
Development
In 1970, Brocka was working with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) as a director when he was approached by Lea Productions about making a film to be entered into the Manila Film Festival.[3] He adapted Ravelo's comic serial of the same name while also borrowing plot elements from the 1965 film The Sound of Music.[4]
Reception
| Award-giving organization | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manila Film Festival | 1970 | Best Picture | Wanted: Perfect Mother | Won | [3][5] |
| Best Actor | Dante Rivero | Won | [5] | ||
| Best Screenplay | Lino Brocka | Won | |||
| 19th FAMAS Awards | 1971 | Best Picture | Wanted: Perfect Mother | Nominated | [5] |
| Best Actress | Boots Anson-Roa | Nominated | |||
| Best Child Performer | Gina Alajar | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Caridad Sanchez | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography (Color) | Conrado Baltazar | Nominated | |||
| Best Musical Score | D'Amarillo | Nominated |
References
- ↑ Tariman, Pablo A. "The anger and humanity of my 'kumpare,' Lino Brocka". The Diarist. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Capino, Jose B. (2020). Martial Law Melodrama: Lino Brocka's Cinema Politics. University of California Press. p. 42.
- 1 2 The Magsaysay Award XI, 1985-1987, Manila, The Magsaysay Award Foundation, 1989, online via this link Archived September 14, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Capino, Jose B. (2020). Martial Law Melodrama: Lino Brocka's Cinema Politics. University of California Press. pp. 200–201.
- 1 2 3 Hernando, Mario (1993). Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times. Cultural Center of the Philippines. p. 245. ISBN 9789718546161. Retrieved 21 July 2026 – via Google Books.