When the lineup of casts for the screenplay was announced to breathe life into National Artist Ishmael Bernal in Ricky Lee’s long-awaited biopic, it did more than just reveal the film’s lead. It reignited widespread interest in a filmmaker whose radical influence continues to define the landscape of Philippine cinema decades after his passing. 

For younger generations, Bernal’s name is often confined to film school syllabi or restored classics, yet his work remains strikingly urgent, tackling issues, from political corruption and systemic inequality to identity and the grit of urban survival that mirror contemporary society.

Before being named a National Artist for Film in 2001, Bernal directed over 50 films, building one of the most formidable bodies of work in the country’s cultural history. He consistently challenged audiences with unflinching social commentary, giving voice to marginalized lives rarely centered in mainstream Filipino storytelling. 

His legendary filmography includes Manila by Night, a raw portrait of the city’s underbelly; Broken Marriage, a sharp look at domestic fracture; the progressive Working Girls; and the iconic masterpiece Himala. 

Beyond the lens, Bernal was a fierce warrior for artistic freedom, aggressively opposing state censorship to defend a filmmaker’s right to tell difficult, politically charged stories.

It is only fitting that his life is being brought to the screen by National Artist for Literature Ricky Lee, the legendary screenwriter who penned many of Bernal’s greatest masterpieces. The upcoming biopic will chronicle Bernal’s journey across different life stages using three different actors, with Rosales anchoring a major chapter of the director’s turbulent, brilliant life.

The project has also assembled a stellar ensemble cast. Judy Ann Santos will take on the monumental challenge of portraying both the superstar Nora Aunor and her iconic *Himala* character, Elsa. Similarly, journalist-actor Atom Araullo will play the dual roles of actor Spanky Manikan and his onscreen counterpart, Orly. Rounding out the high-profile cast are Iza Calzado as the enigmatic actress Rita Gomez, and John “Sweet” Lapus as the late stage and screen icon Bernardo Bernardo.

For a new generation of viewers, this biopic promises to be more than a retrospective on a celebrated director. It serves as an entry point into a revolutionary body of work that continues to challenge, provoke, and redefine Philippine cinema, proving that Bernal’s stories remain timeless because they still speak directly to the present.