By Eric Borromeo
The red carpet rolled out at Gateway Cinema on April 22 for the star-studded celebrity screening of Fatherland, the latest cinematic offering from veteran director Joel Lamangan.
Produced by Bentria Production and Heaven’s Best Entertainment, the film blends personal drama with heavy-hitting social commentary—serving both heart and heat in one sweeping narrative.
At the heart of the film is Alex, played by Iñigo Pascual, who embarks on a search for his estranged father, Philip (Allen Dizon). The twist? Philip suffers from multiple personality disorder, and Dizon had the demanding task of portraying not one, but three distinct characters – Philip, the farmer; Fayez, the terrorist; and Teban, the gay man.
Following the screening, Dizon opened up about the emotional and technical demands of the film during a press junket.
“Yung first, Kapampangan kase ako. Nakita ko din kung paano maging farmer. Kung paano si Philip, uminit ang ulo niya. Sa Muslim naman (Fayez), kailangang mag-research, kailangang makipag-usap sa mga Muslim. Paano yung culture nila. May mga coach kami na kinuha para sa mga dialogue.
“Yung pagiging bakla ko naman, si Direk Joel ang nagturo sa akin paano maging Teban,” he shared.
Dizon admitted that playing three roles stretched him in ways few projects have before. “Ganun kahirap yung roles ko sa Fatherland. Nahirapan ako sa tatlong characters ko. Pero kung bilib ka sa direktor mo, mas magiging magaan yung trabaho,” he said.
When asked which role gave him the most difficulty, Dizon didn’t hesitate to admit it was Teban’s character.
“Dun ako talaga nahirapan. Parang… hindi talaga ako kumportable. Sabi ni Direk Joel, okay lang yan. May mga galaw ako… tapos sabi niya lambutan mo ng konti, lambingan mo ng konti. Di ba halata (sa pelikula)? Nahirapan ako sa pagiging Teban, pero natawid ko naman,” Dizon admitted with a smile.
Lamangan, known for his fearless socio-political narratives, directs Fatherland with the same boldness—delving into themes like land grabbing, corruption, terrorism, and mental health. Yet, despite its heavy subject matter, the film also delivers emotional resonance and heartfelt moments that aim straight for the audience’s core.
Backing the project is Engr. Ben Austria, who says his passion for filmmaking is rooted in a deeper advocacy.
“I will keep producing films because my advocacy is not only to entertain, but more so to help the industry,” Austria shared.
With its rich narrative, grounded performances, and socio-political relevance, Fatherland is one film that demands to be seen—and felt.
Now showing in theaters nationwide.
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