MOVIE and television actor John Arcilla was touched when he saw that the Japanese were moved, some were actually in tears, because of his latest independent film "Himpapawid".

"Himpapawid" (Manila Skies), which premiered at the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival, received a favorable reaction from the Japanese audience during its first day screening in Tokyo, Japan.

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Being the first Filipino film to be included in the main competition of the Tokyo International Film Festival, Arcilla said: "Masaya artistically speaking, malungkot content wise because ganito na lang ba lagi na we are going to glorify this poverty of ours (I'm happy artistically speaking but at the same time sad content wise because are we going to stay this way, glorifying this poverty of ours?)"

"Himpapawid" is about a man pushed to his limits as he struggles with the oppression of surviving in modern Philippine society.

It was directed by Reymond Red, who also won the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival for the short film "Anino," and one of the first Filipino to receive a Rotterdam Hubert Bals Memorial grant.

Portrayed by Raul Arellano, the lead character in the story is a desperate simple man from the countryside who went to the big city in search for his luck.

During the closing day of 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival in Market Market in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Arcilla said he is happy that Himpapawid was chosen to be the closing film and was finally shown in Manila.

Arcilla also said he loves working with Red and the rest of the crew and that when the project was offered to him, he immediately accepted it because he believes in the movie and the character given to him.

When asked on his upcoming projects, Arcilla said he will be included in the cast of "Habang May Buhay," which will be shown early next year with Judy Anne Santos and Derek Ramsey. (Glaiza Jarloc/Sunnex)