A movie that speaks to all ages

The actors and actresses featured in the movie The Forgotten Island strike a pose after the movie’s premiere showing last July 25 at the Regal Theater in Susupe. (Bea Cabrera)

For four weeks every Wednesday night starting July 25, a movie made by Saipan’s senior citizens or man’amko was shown at the Regal Theater for public consumption.

Now on its last run tonight at 7pm, people are invited to watch the movie The Forgotten Island as it features the talent and work of senior citizens who are active members of the Office of the Aging and the production and scriptwriting skills of Office on Aging director Walter Manglona.

The Forgotten Island starts well, with an opening that exhibits the conflict that the main characters seek to resolve throughout the course of the movie. This film affects all ages, with the life lessons in the movie speaking to the heart.

Despite its relatively inexperienced cast, the actors all managed to evoke a gamut of emotions, partnered with the slick production, editing, and scriptwriting skills of Manglona.

Rep. Vinne Sablan was with his family at the premiere and had nothing but words of praise for the movie. “It was great! I am very impressed with our beloved man’amko. This movie is a very good indication of the great program the man’amko have,” he said.

“I commend the director, Walter Manglona, who produced the movie. I know it’s a lot of work and I am very impressed with the effects and graphics but, most importantly, impressed with the man’amko who were part of the movie. The interesting parts were the wise message of the movie… we look forward to part two and more movies to come,” he added.

Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Robert Hunter, who was present at the first showing, said the movie was a pleasant surprise. “It’s fantastic! It was a full theater tonight. It was my first time to see the movie as I haven’t even previewed it. It was very well done and really innovative.”

“That Walter [Manglona] did all the video production with the man’amko is just truly impressive. Our stateside grantor wants to package this and use it as a model for other Historical Preservation Offices. It’s truly beautiful to see the man’amko as the superstars,” he added.

Manglona himself couldn’t be prouder of the work the man’amko members put in to make the movie possible. “I was very pleased to see a lot of people show up and most of our seniors got to see the production for the first time. There was laughter when they see a familiar face on the screen as it comes from the fact that they know them and they’re watching, saying, ‘Man, I can’t believe they are up there,’” he said.

“Making this film is really exciting for me because when you work with the seniors, you just got to be able to keep in mind that they are seniors and we have to go with their pace… A lot of the scenes in the movie may seem dangerous but it’s actually very safe and controlled,” he added.

Proceeds of the film will go directly to the man’amko fundraising account. “…this helps fund special activities, help procure recreational equipment like computers and anything that they can use,” Manglona said.

Manglona added this will help the man’amko accomplish their goals and mission—to remain active, healthy, involved, interested, as well as travel to Tinian, Rota and Guam to meet other man’amko there.

Other Office of Aging programs that benefit senior citizens at the center include nutrition program, preventive health , dancing and exercising , elder abuse and neglect prevention, and senior community service employment program.

The Forgotten Island movie tickets are available only at the Office of the Aging on Middle Road across Gold’s Gym at $15 each.