Sister Stella L. is certainly the first studio film to react to the assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. several months earlier. Written by José “Pete” Lacaba (one of the scriptwriters on Lino Brocka’s Bayan-ko and Fight for Us), who leaves his recognisable mark on this linear story unbloated by drama or sentiment, the filmmaker seems to have suggested that this was his least personal film. Yet, the intelligence of Lacaba (the dialogues are outstanding) and the precision of Mike De Leon’s mise en scène are reinforced by their one and only collaboration. To be noted: the remarkable performance of Vilma Santos in the title role. JB
Unreleased in France
