LVN's Digitally Enhanced 'Sumpaan' Is Coming To UP
See Baguio in the '40s and catch a glimpse of what kilig was like back then.
(SPOT.ph) Way before the term ‘rom-com’ was invented, the writer and director Susana C. De Guzman was already making Filipino adolescents blush and setting young hearts aflutter. Like in Sumpaan, the 1948 LVN Pictures movie she helmed starring Ely Ramos, Norma Blancaflor, Tony Arnaldo, and Rosa Rosal. The movie follows the story of three brothers who pledge on their father’s deathbed that they will look after each other. But the three discover along the way that maintaining strong relations as siblings is tough.
Those who’ve seen the film fondly recall it for its nakakakilig scenes, filled with ligawan and selosan moments that offer a glimpse into the courtship rituals of yesteryears. Now 76 years after it first hit theaters, Sumpaan will once again be seen on the big screen, digitally scanned and enhanced for the cinematic experience of a completely new audience. Will today’s viewers still get kilig?
The latest Sagip Pelikula project
The special screening of Sumpaan will take place on April 18, 4 p.m., at the UPFI Film Center in UP Diliman, Quezon City. It’s the latest among a selection of Filipino movies shot on film and given a new lease on life through the wonders of digital technology, thanks to the Sagip Pelikula initiative of ABS-CBN.
Since its launch in 2011, Sagip Pelikula has been dedicated to the remastering, restoration, and digitization of beloved Filipino films, ensuring their preservation and accessibility for viewing across various platforms in these modern times. Four film classics that benefited from the project include Ishmael Bernal’s Himala, Peque Gallaga’s Oro, Plata, Mata, Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Karnal, and Chito S. Roño’s Dekada ‘70.
Leo Katigbak, head of the Sagip Pelikula project, recalls finding the copy of Sumpaan in remarkably good condition compared to other titles in the running for a fix-up, this despite the film being on a 16mm print. The Sumpaan copy was scanned and digitally enhanced in 2K resolution, and Katigbak and his team fixed several issues found on the original source like image instability, dirt and dust, deep and shallow scratches, and specks and optical color issues, among others.
The enhancement took about 80 hours. “In terms of audio, pops, hisses, crackers and clicks were significantly addressed during audio restoration by Narra by Wildsound," Katigbak adds.
Katigbak acknowledges Sumpaan is not exactly one of the strongest titles in the LVN catalog. Even acclaimed director Mike de Leon, custodian of the LVN archives (he is the grandson of LVN founder Narcisa “Dona Sisang” de Leon), turned down a suggestion to include it in the program for his 2022 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art.
But the significance of a film, especially older ones, isn't solely determined by its artistic achievements. Historical context, cultural impact, or representation of a particular style or era should also be considered. Which is likely why Sumpaan was chosen to be "rescued" by Sagip Pelikula.
Baguio of a bygone era
Katigbak says Sumpaan is the oldest post-World War II film the ABS-CBN outfit has restored, with Mutya Ng Pasig from 1950 coming in second. “This is one of the earliest Rosa Rosal movies and the only movie we will likely be able to restore with Norma Blancaflor [in it],” stresses Katigbak. To hear Katigbak say it, watching Sumpaan is like a day at the museum, providing a glimpse into a past that many may not have had the opportunity to witness or experience firsthand.
“Personally, I like the fact that the images are authentic post-World War II Manila. Images that would be unthinkable or unimaginable in this congested age,” Katigbak says. “A good portion of the movie was also set in Baguio and it shows a pristine Baguio. I also like the fact that people were more proper and formal in their attire. It looks elegant and pleasant to the eyes with men in suits and women in dresses, unlike today where most people go out as if they just got out of bed."
Audiences might also find the airport scenes particularly amusing. "They are a blast from the past," says Katigbak. "The images are like time capsules to a bygone era.”
Admission to Sumpaan screening is free. To register, visit this link https://bit.ly/LVNSumpaan or ABS-CBN Film Restoration Facebook page.