Crisel Consunji won Best New Performer in her first ever film 'Still Human' as a domestic helper
Thursday, August 15, 2019
"You can't choose not to be in a wheelchair, but you can choose how to sit in it."
Evelyn Santos
I've watched several films in the past that tackles how hard it is for OFWs particularly the domestic helpers to cope up in a foreign land, serve their masters and miss their families that bad just to earn money and make a better living. Some gets lucky, while others experience hell while still living. STILL HUMAN gives a thorough glimpse of what a domestic helper goes through in their everyday lives, while busy earning money, the protagonist of the film, Evelyn Santos, didn't let her dream dim with the help of her dream giver.
Still Human is a movie about a former nurse approaching her mid-30s, Evelyn (Crisel Consunji) arrives in Hong Kong from the Philippines in response to an employment ad seeking a caregiver for a middle-aged pensioner Leung (Anthony Wong).
Living alone and confined to a wheelchair, he needs frequent assistance with eating, bathing and getting around after the abrupt departure of his former maid. The two get off to a rocky start when he discovers that Evelyn doesn’t speak Cantonese and they’re forced to communicate in imperfect English, with Leung using a mobile phone app to translate his often acerbic text entries into spoken commands.
Evelyn quickly settles into her new role as a domestic, eager to earn a salary to send back home to her family and pay exorbitant attorney’s fees for the annulment of her marriage to an abusive husband. Leung remains disgruntled, however, despite Evelyn’s conscientious caregiving and assiduous attempts to lighten his mood, frequently revisiting bitter memories of the random construction accident that crippled him.
Things turn around once he discovers Evelyn’s dream of becoming a photographer and Leung begins to soften up, inexplicably determined to support her artistic ambitions.
Present during the special screening of STILL HUMAN is the star of the film Crisel Consunji. The event took place at Cinema 76, Anonas, Quezon City. To date, Still Human swept the 2019 Hong Kong Film Awards, garnering the Best Actor Award for Anthony Wong, Best New Performer for Crisel Consunji, and Best New Director for Oliver Chan.
Crisel shared her experience in doing the film, it was her very first film and working with a prime actor Anthony Wong gave her the best experience she could have in her life, she learned a lot from him and to win an award from Hong Kong Film Awards is such an honor to represent the country especially the character she portrays in the film.
Crisel also shared how was it like working with Anthony Wong. At first she didn't realize how famous he was until fans are building up where they are filming. He is such an admirable actor, he has won three times as Best Actor in Hong Kong Film Awards and has tried different genre of films, most are very challenging like a serial killer (Ebola Syndrome, 1996) to a social activist (Ordinary Heroes, 1999), to a simmering triad thug (Vengeance, 2009).
There are a lot of moving and touching scenes in the film STILL HUMAN and one of those is the photo above. One wouldn't help but cry with the build up of emotions in the film. From the moment Evelyn and Leung became friends and how they managed to build a special bond with each other is truly remarkable. I guess, the title of the film also signifies that there is "STILL HUMAN" int this world - someone who will be there to support your dreams even though there are time it seems so vague. Crisel Consunji, for someone who just started in the film industry, did a remarkable job in her role as Evelyn. She doesn't need to exert much effort, she acts naturally eblending perfectly with Anthony Wong. She truly deserves her award as Best New Performer.
One thing I learned from the film is that no one, not even yourself, can mock your dreams. You might be at your lowest point but you still need to keep going because your time will definitely come and there might be someone counting on you too.
I hope STILL HUMAN will be commercially released in the country so that more people will be able to appreciate this beautiful film.
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