The Manila Times

Prague’s top actress headlines Filipino rom-com

TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA

FLAMBOYANT celebrity lawyer and now full-time movie producer Ferdie Topacio of Borracho Films proudly introduced 25-year-old Czech actress Sara Sandeva as the lady lead of his next movie, “Spring in Prague.”

Unaffected by the disappointing turnout of cinemagoers to Borracho’s debut movie — the big-budgeted retelling of the 2015 Mamasapano tragedy at December’s Metro Manila Film Festival — Topacio is still upbeat as ever over this new title since it’s a romantic comedy.

“Hindi talaga mahilig ang mga Pilipino sa mga pelikula tungkol sa kasaysayan,” he shrugged his shoulders. “Pero itong isang ‘to siguradong magugustuhan nila ito — isang original love story na kinunan natin sa napakagandang capital ng Czech Republic — ang Prague — starring one of their most famous stars and our proudly Filipino cast.”

The chances Topacio may be right about his project this time are pretty high, given that Spring in Prague is written by one-time The Manila Times entertainment editor turned award-winning screenwriter Eric Ramos. Ramos, of course, also wrote Mamasapano but is best known for the blockbuster hit, “Rainbow Sunset,” a love story between two seniors portrayed by the late great actors Eddie Garcia and Tony Mabesa in 2018.

Add the famously daring Paolo Gumabao as Sandeva’s leading man in this antithesis of a formulaic rom-com, Borracho Films should be back in business.

Before finally giving Sandeva the floor, Topacio gloated about asking around Prague who their No. 1 actress is when casting the leading lady, duly landing the very beauty for his movie.

Flattered by the producer’s all-out praises, Sandeva expressed excitement over her very first Filipino project, saying how she has fallen in love with the country and more so with “this amazing Filipino cast.”

“They are so warm, friendly and supportive — especially Paolo — making my experience here so great and so memorable,” she gushed.

A quick Google on Sandeva will reveal that the actress is backed with an extensive body of work on television, the movies and live theater back home. The European movie website cinemas.com further notes that Sandeva’s “professionalism can be seen in each of her works. She knows how to adapt her personality and even her physique to the demands of [the different] role[s] she has portrayed... always giving the best of her talent [to] the public.”

With post-production still ahead for Spring in Prague, Sara Sandeva is definitely one to watch out for in the local cinema scene this 2023.

Entertainment & Lifestyle

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2023-01-25T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-25T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/282316799165360

The Manila Times