''Emir '' is a 2010

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

by acclaimed Filipino director

Chito S. Roño Chito Sarmiento Roño (; born April 26, 1954), also known as Sixto Kayko and Chito S. Roño, is a Filipino writer, producer, and director. He is known for his expansive vision and special-effects-heavy films. He came to prominence in the Phil ...

. The film revolves around a girl that becomes a domestic helper in a fictional oil-rich Arab nation of Yememeni.

Plot

Amelia, a girl from a poor Ilocano family, decides to go abroad and find her fortune and also help her family. She becomes a maid of a

royal family A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...

in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

, which is running out of time, for the wife of the Sheikh is giving birth to a child. The newborn child is a son named Ahmed, and the Sheikh's wife asks Amelia to take care of the baby, to which she agrees. Amelia grows fond of the baby, teaching him to speak Tagalog and play ''

tumbang preso ''Tumbang preso'' ("knock down the prisoner"), also known as ''tumba lata'' ("knock down the can") or ''bato lata'' ("hit the can ith a stone), is a Filipino traditional children's game. The game involves throwing a slipper at a can or bottle ...

''. After twelve years of service, Amelia's life has improved. Unfortunately, a war is coming and the royal family is forced to leave the palace in case they are attacked. When the palace is attacked, some of the maids and even the wife of the Sheikh are killed, but Amelia and Ahmed manage to escape by going to a secret door in the house and, with the help of Boyong the driver, go to a faraway place to hide. One day, men riding on horseback took Ahmed away from Amelia. With the help of the government, Amelia returns home, where she starts her own business and lives a good life. Later she learns that the men who took Ahmed away were under orders from the Sheikh. Years later, someone with a familiar voice calls her "Yaya" and she sees Ahmed who has fully grown up. The film ends with Ahmed, Amelia and Boyong in Amelia's house. The shy Boyong even gives Amelia a necklace because he never had the chance to.

Cast and characters

Frencheska Farr Marie Frencheska Mae Tobias Farr-Jose (born September 9, 1992) is a Filipino-British singer, model and actress. She was the Are You the Next Big Star? grand champion along with Geoff Taylor. Early life and career Farr was born in Pasay City, ...

as Amelia *Dulce as Ester *

Sid Lucero Timothy Mark Pimentel Eigenmann (; born March 12, 1983), better known by his stage name Sid Lucero (), is a Filipino television and film actor and model. He won the 31st Gawad Urian Best Actor award for his role in ''Selda''. Career Tim's s ...

as Victor *

Jhong Hilario Virgilio Viernes Hilario Jr. (born August 11, 1976), professionally known as Jhong Hilario, is a Philippines, Filipino actor, dancer, television host, and politician. He is part of the Filipino dance group ''Streetboys''. He is currently servin ...

as Boyong *Kalila Aguilos as Tersing *Beverly Salviejo as Diday *

Julia Clarete Edda Giselle Rosetta Nuñez Clarette (born September 24, 1979), better known by her screen name Julia Clarete (), is a Filipina singer, actress, television host, and performer. She is best known as one of the co-hosts of ''Eat Bulaga!'', the ...

as Angie *

Anna Luna ''Anna Luna'' was an afternoon Philippine soap opera which aired on ABS-CBN from November 27, 1989 to September 30, 1994. The series was the longest Philippine drama series on ABS-CBN until 2022 when '' FPJ's Ang Probinsyano'' surpassed it. Anna ...

as Rachel *Liesl Batucan as Pearlsha *Melanie Dujunco as Mylene *Gigi Escalante as Amelia's grandmother *

Bayang Barrios Bayang Barrios (born on June 12, 1968 to parents of Lumad origin) is a Filipino people, Filipina musician and singer who hails from Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, and is known for her use of indigenous instruments and styles. ...

as Amelia's mother *

Bodjie Pascua Luisito "Bodjie" Pascua (born March 2, 1955) is a Filipino stage and film & TV actor and former children's television host. He is best known as "Kuya Bodjie" ("Big Brother Bodjie"), the iconic character he portrayed on the children's educational ...

as Amelia's father *Emil Sandoval as Jamal *Ned Hourani as Sheik *Valerie Bariou as Sheika *Ali Rasekhi as King *Huriyeh Maghazehi as sister of Ahmed *Joshua Elias Price Hourani as Ahmed (7 years old) *Mahdi Yazdian Varjani as Ahmed (12 years old) *Nelsito Gomez as Ahmed (19 years old)

Production

''Emir'' was mostly shot at

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

as setting up shooting locations in

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

is more restricted.

Reception

John Iremil Teodro of GMA Network describes ''Emir'' as a badly edited, badly written, poorly directed and boring film. On the other hand, Fidel Antonio Medel of the Philippine Entertainment Portal describes the film as having overwhelming craftmanship and pointed out the attention given to the film's designs, costumes, makeup, art direction and cinematography.

Awards

''Emir'' won ten awards from the 8th Golden Screen Awards. This includes Best Director and Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Emir 2010 films 2010s musical drama films 2010s Tagalog-language films Films directed by Chito S. Roño Philippine musical drama films