Best film at the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and the Philippines’ entry to the Oscars (but sadly didn’t make the cut), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank or The Woman in the Septic Tank grossed more than 40 million in its commercial run which Star Cinema distributed and was considered as the highest grossing independent film until That Thing Called Tadhana broke its record last 2015.
Starring no other than Ms. Eugene Domingo, the film also won Best Screenplay for Chris Martinez, Audience Choice Award, Best Director for Marlon Rivera and Best Performance of an Actress for Eugene Domingo. The film is about Jocelyn (Cai Cortez), Rainier (Kean Cipriano) and Bingbong (JM de Guzman) who are trying to make an Oscar-worthy film titled With Nothing, and hiring one of the country’s high-caliber artist such as Eugene Domingo as their lead actress, who will eventually jump into a septic tank and a winning script will make their film a sure entry to the Oscars.
Five years later, Eugene Domingo is back as “Eugene Domingo” in the much-anticipated follow-up to the independent box-office hit movie, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank. Together with her director/writer Rainier (Kean Cipriano), her line producer Jocelyn (Cai Cortez) and their rookie production assistant Lennon (Khalil Ramos), Eugene prepares for her comeback vehicle after a long sabbatical from moviemaking. Rainier proposes “The Itinerary,” a heartbreaking anatomy of a crumbling marriage as told through a couple’s trip to Baguio, their former honeymoon location. Eugene Domingo is excited by the project but she has other ideas in mind. In the film-within-the-film, we see Eugene’s absurd suggestions and recommendations — changing Rainier’s script by employing the poetics of the Pinoy romantic comedy genre into what is supposedly a realistic portrayal of love and marriage.
“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” is written by Chris Martinez and directed by Marlon Rivera. The film is an official entry to the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival which opens December 25, 2016 from Quantum Films, MJM Productions, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Films and Martinez Rivera Productions.