The soon-to-be-released teen drama “UNFRIEND” from Solar Entertainment Corporation showcases up and
coming young actor Sandino Martin, who shares the same screen surname as one of
today’s most bankable mainstream actors, Coco Martin. They are completely
unrelated to one another though. But this early, many movie observers are
asking whether this hunk of an actor may yet soon be the next Coco Martin.
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| Photo courtesy of Centerstage Productions |
In “UNFRIEND” Sandino
portrays a gender-confused teenager named Jonathan, who battles depression
after he is dumped by his male lover David (Angelo Ilagan). Continuing to track and follow his ex-lover
on social media, he is unable to contain his uncontrollable obsession with hauntingly
fatal consequences. The role called for
him to perform intimately and in the nude with his male lover David, and then
again in a passionate one night stand with a party goer he meets anonymously
(Jay Enriquez). Exposing skin, butt and
everything else in the film’s R-18 Directors Cut version , the sizzling and sensuous
role recalls then indie actor Coco Martin in similar portrayals in celebrated sexy
films “Serbis, “Masahista” and many more.
Could the same route be exploited by Sandino to eventually
land mainstream? Sandino answers only with a smile at the thought of this
career path. But on the comparison to
Coco he is more open “Of course I don’t mind the comparison with Coco. In fact it’s very flattering” he mentions. And
after “UNFRIEND” was premiered a
few weeks ago at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival the
young actor is very hopeful his career will take to high gear. “I surely have a long way to go to be likened
to him and am just very, very happy now that we premiered in Berlin. The film was actually finished early last year
and I was waiting for some time for the local release. But imagine the big surprise ----- the Berlin
Film Fest! It was an experience of a
lifetime for me” he said. Sandino flew
to Berlin, Germany with the film’s director Jay Altarejos.
UNFRIEND was among the first films selected among hundreds of
global entries in the non-competitive, Panorama section of the film festival. It received rave reviews from German film
critics. It was described as “powerful”
, “stylish”, “compelling”,” a great story of the unraveling of a wanting soul
in the face of the loss of a loved one”. It is at best a social commentary on the ills
of disturbed and struggling teenagers whose lifeline is disconnected from
absentee parents and hooked instead to fleeting, non-permanent and false
sources of nurturing.
UNFRIEND also stars
Boots Anson Roa in the role of Ester, Jonathn’s grandmother.
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