AFTER wrapping up its first series of ?Overlooked Films, Underrated Filmmakers? previews this month, the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (Sofia) begins a new batch of screenings with Elwood Perez?s ?neglected gem,? ?Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae? (originally released in 1974).

Sofia members have found a copy of the ?lost? film, which will be screened at the Cultural Center of the Philippines? Tanghalang Manuel Conde on February 5 at 2 p.m.

Fitting gift

The screening will be held a day after Perez?s 66th birthday, and serves as a fitting ?gift.?

?I don?t have video copies of my films,? Perez admitted. ?The last time I saw ?Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae? was ages ago.?

The trilogy top-bills Amalia Fuentes, Boots Anson-Roa and Pilar Pilapil in unconventional roles, said Perez. ?It was produced by Juan de la Cruz Productions, run by my relatives Hernando Mendoza and Mac Fabian and fellow director Joey Gosiengfiao,? he said. They were among the independent filmmakers at that time.

?Putting up our own production company gave me and Joey free rein to indulge our fantasies, tell stories that moved us and provide our favorite stars with roles that were out of the box,? Perez explained.

The three episodes revolved around a condominium building and were scripted by Gosiengfiao and Douglas Quijano, Orlando Nadres and Wilfrido Nolledo.

Amalia fan

?The concept of condo living was new at that time,? Perez said.

A self-avowed fan of Fuentes, he thought of casting the movie queen as a cougar long before the term?s invention: ?She played a bored socialite who seduces her stepson, played by Orestes Ojeda. The big studios then wouldn?t dare cast her in such an off-beat role.?

He made Roa ?the eternal virgin,? play a laundry woman, a rape victim who falls for her tormentor (played by Ray Marcos).?

Pilapil was cast against type as well. ?She played a haughty model who pretended to be rich?a social climber,? said Perez.

Also in the cast were veteran actresses Anita Linda and Mona Lisa, and style experts Fanny Serrano and Ernest Santiago.

Perez said he didn?t feel overwhelmed directing ?larger-than-life? stars: ?Television prepared me well. In 1970, for one of my earliest TV jobs, ?Bahay Mo, Bahay Ko? (an episode of ?Balintataw?), I directed Anita Linda, Rosa Rosal and Rita Gomez, along with Armida Siguion-Reyna and Lorli Villanueva.?

Although not easily intimidated, Perez is apprehensive about watching an old film decades later. ?I hope I won?t cringe in my seat,? he confessed.

He?s not bothered by the ?underrated? tag, either, saying he avoided publicity when he was younger because he wanted to remain incognito.

Top three films

Still, ?Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae? merited a review in the US paper Variety and was named by a local critic as among the top three films of 1974, along with Lino Brocka?s ?Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang? and Jun Raquiza?s ?Krimen: Kayo ang Humatol.?

?Krimen? was shown in the first batch of the ?Overlooked? series, along with Danny Zialcita?s ?Masquerade,? Johnny Reyes? ?Kasal o Sakal,? Cesar Gallardo?s ?Ito Ang Pilipino,? Butch Perez?s ?Gaano Kita Kamahal? and FH Constantino?s ?Waray-Waray.?