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Ricky Lee, Mac Alejandre collaborate on erotic period film 'Celestina: Burlesk Dancer'

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Kiko Escuadro

ABS-CBN News

MANILA --Veteran director Mac Alejandre and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee are once again collaborating -- this time for an exciting erotic period film under Viva Films, &quot;Celestina: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVOa96wYJfU">Burlesk Dancer</a>.&quot;Starring Yen Durano and Christine Bermas, this movie is about a mother who becomes a sexy dancer to be able to raise her child while the country is facing one of the most trying times in its history.Set in the 1940s, when the Philippines was under Japanese control, Celestina Tinay (Durano) is also fighting her own battles. She is married to Cornelio (Sid Lucero), a former haciendero who is now reduced to being a drunkard, gambler, and womanizer. Tinay works hard to provide for their family and tries to bear all the sufferings, but she’s had enough when she catches Cornelio with another woman.According to Alejandre, he and Lee took a while to develop the project.&quot;It took Ricky (Lee) and I a long while bago makapag-isip ng kakaibang material. Actually na-excite ako kasi sabi ni Boss Vic (del Rosario), &#x27;Gawin natin ito Mac, pero gawin natin na daring pero cinema release siya.&#x27; At that time ang ginagawa ko, puro Vivamax, so nung sinabi na cinema release, natuwa ako,&quot; the director told the press on Thursday.&quot;It took quite a while kasi may research etc. and we knew from the start na we wanted a period movie,&quot; he added.In this collaboration, Alejandre also admitted that he and Lee are both fans of Celso Ad Castillo&#x27;s film &quot;Burlesk Queen&quot; starring award-winning actress Vilma Santos.&quot;Pareho naming gusto ang &#x27;Burlesque Queen&#x27; ni Vilma Santos. So nung binanggit ni Boss Vic sa amin ang project na parang &#x27;Burlesque Queen&#x27;, matagal kaming nag-isip ni Ricky kasi we didn&#x27;t want it na maging kadikit or malapit doon sa Vilma Santos film. Pagkatapos ng mahabang brainstorming after several months, nakaisip si Ricky ng kuwento and idea na dinivelop niya,&quot; he shared.But Alejandre clarified that their film is not related to Castillo&#x27;s classic piece.&quot;Pareho naming gusto ni Ricky ang gawa ni Celso Ad Castillo. Gandang ganda kami sa pelikula. Are we safe to say na inspired siya? Lahat ng magandang pelikula ay inspired ng mga mahihilig sa pelikula but it does not anyway refer to &#x27;Burlesk Queen,&#x27;&quot; he said.&quot;Celestina: Burlesk Dancer&quot; opens in cinemas on December 4.<div>RELATED NEWS: <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/16/22/2-mac-alejandre-movies-to-compete-in-barcelona">2 Mac Alejandre movies to compete in Asian film fest in Barcelona</a></div>

Veteran director Mac Alejandre and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee are once again collaborating -- this time for an exciting erotic period film under Viva Films, 'Celestina: Burlesk Dancer.'

Veteran director Mac Alejandre and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee are once again collaborating -- this time for an exciting erotic period film under Viva Films, 'Celestina: Burlesk Dancer.'