(Photo from the “Dahling Nick” Facebook page)
November 13, 2015, 1:20a.m. – A FRESH look into the life and works of the late writer Nick Joaquin was achieved in “Dahling Nick,” a documentary-drama screened last Nov. 11 at TriNoma Mall in Quezon City.
The film recounts Joaquin’s rise as a titan of Philippine literature, with the narrative of his life interwoven with his masterfully penned stories.
“Dahling Nick” also encapsulates other important points in the late national artist’s life, such as his devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval, a voracious appetite for reading, and his love for beer.
Fellow national artists such as F. Sionil Jose and Bienvenido Lumbera offer commentaries, and several of Joaquin’s noted writings such as “May Day Eve,” “The Legend of the Virgin’s Jewels” and “The Two Kisses of Eros” are artistically depicted.
Raymond Bagatsing’s skillful acting effectively portrays Joaquin’s colorful life as a writer and journalist.
“Everything [about him] was a cohesion: who the man was, not only his personal life but his work. [We see] the holistic Nick Joaquin—his spirit, his intellect, and his great heart. People remember him as a person [beyond] his work and how he touched people’s lives,” Bagatsing told the Varsitarian in an interview.
The film was helmed by award-winning director Sari Lluch Dalena, known for her works such as “Ka Oryang,” “Memories of Forgotten,” and “Rigodon.”
Dalena said the film offered an enriching experience for the audience, reminding viewers of the hidden treasures that could be found in the untold stories of the country’s literary figures.
“There’s a wealth out there na kailangan talaga nating magandang isa-pelikula, as a way to preserve culture and history,” she said.
Joaquin obtained an AA or associate in arts degree from UST. He was conferred the title National Artist in 1976.
He was a multi-awarded writer, having won three Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards and the 1996 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature, Journalism and Creative Communication, among others.
