'Rakenrol' to debut on Netflix in February; co-writer and Sandwich guitarist Diego Castillo looks back on the film
Director Quark Henares's, Rakenrol, is the latest Filipino film to make it to Netflix.
The 2011 coming-of-age movie was top-billed by Kapuso stars Glaiza De Castro and Jason Abalos, along with Ketchup Eusebio, Alwyn Uytingco, Ramon Bautista, Jun Sabayton, Diether Ocampo, and Matet De Leon.
Rakenrol follows the story of best friends Odie (Jason) and Irene (Glaiza) and their bandmates Mo (Ketchup), an ex-punk turned barista, and school bully Junfour (Alwyn).
Collectively, they are known as the Hapipaks.
Photo by: Rakenrol (FB)
Odie harbors secret feelings for Irene but opts to pour his pent-up emotions instead into the songs that he's writing.
The narrative is set with the local underground music scene as a backdrop complete with soundtracks, cameos of rock personalities, and various references to that dynamic yet tight-knit community that Quark and co-writer, Sandwich guitarist Diego Castillo, know all too well.
Rakenrol was independently produced and took six years before it was finally exhibited.
Snapshot in time
For Diego, Rakenrol, represents that period “when you could say everything and anything was possible.”
Photo by: dayglo1 (IG)
The cast members were chosen after an open audition called by the small team behind the film.
“I remember a then young Glaiza asking to perform a Velvet Underground song as part of her audition, which ultimately made us decide that she's made to play the part of Irene,” Diego told GMANetwork.com.
“There were way too many awesome memories while shooting Rakenrol,” Diego said.
Photo by: Rakenrol (FB)
“But the Mamaw Pazuzu scene at the old Mayrics was always one of my favorites, the music video with Ramon as the Flame Tigerbluden, and of course the band's first practice.
“But really my most precious moments are the times I got to spend with the cast and crew, especially with Quark seeing we've been friends and like brothers since forever.”
Diego called the movie “our little love letter to the local music scene.”
Photo by: Rakenrol (FB)
He added, “I do see it as a snapshot of the mid-2000s. It is semi-biographical for Quark and I and almost all the film's material are sourced from our own personal experiences growing up in the local music scene.”
Who brokered the Netflix deal?
“Honestly, that's all Quark. I have been trying for him to get it onto Netflix for a long time since he's had a lot of success in the films he's been producing in making it to the platform,” Diego, who is also a DJ, said.
Rakenrol didn't enjoy wide distribution back then given its indie nature. Online streaming platforms, particularly for movies, were also an alien concept at the time.
Photo by: Rakenrol (FB)
Having a presence on Netflix would allow the movie to reach audiences beyond its cult following.
“It now has a chance to have a wider audience than it did when it first came out,” mused Diego.
“I always felt like it was even better received internationally, including the time Quark and I won at the Asian Pacific Film Festival in Los Angeles, than here. So I'm really excited that more people can finally catch it.”
Rakenrol will premiere on Netflix this coming February.
Time really flies. Ten years after Rakenrol was shown, its lead star Glaiza de Castro is now engaged to her longtime boyfriend and now fiancé David Rainey. Take a look at the couple's prenup photos taken recently in Donegal, Ireland:
