It’s for the public to judge whether such nod is justifiable, and if the movie is indeed notches higher than other local movies of recent exhibitions.

The film’s director Neal "Buboy" Tan, who co-wrote the story and screenplay with producer Anthony Gedang, boasts that the movie topbilled by reliable acts Joel Torre and Jaclyn Jose gives off a redeeming value towards its end, in spite that it is generally a depiction of a life found in a community of dysfunctional characters trying to survive in a squatter’s area.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, the former comics-writer claiming he is not afraid of caskets, contends, "I believe that after watching this movie, one will feel refreshed." This is presumably to tell moviegoers that "Ataul for Rent" is not another lowbudgeted movie trying to showcase film art through very dark visualizations that audiences come out in theater with heavy hearts and contorted minds.

The plot circulates around the couple Guido (Joel Torre) and Pining (Jaclyn Jose) who owns a funeral parlor that rent out coffins. Guido, the embalmer, and Pining, the make-up artist for the dead, lives in "Kalyehong Walang Lagusan" which is a narrow, congested alley populated by drug addicts, prostitutes, gamblers, and other notorious slum dwellers. This is the place where the main characters and a host of notable supporting casts found their lives intertwined in one way or another.

"I’m a toughie here and it’s a challenge doing the role kasi nga mahirap magpakalasing kapag di ka lasing," imparts the tried and tested actor who revealed he got the role after he chanced upon the producers having a meeting somewhere at the airport where he just landed from an out-of-town trip.

"They told me if I’ll be interested and I said I’ll read the script first. I liked it and I called them back," he recalls.

A who’s who of the indie film industry fill up "Ataul's" casting, with its so-called queen Irma Adlawan playing the role of Aling Carmen, a gambling laundrywoman mother of a drug addict and callboy, played by Denver Olivares and Coco Martin, respectively.

Other top-notch character actors showcased their talents for the film, such as Ronnie Lazaro acting as Batul, a taong-grasa from whose eyes the narrative is told, Pen Medina as Tata Islaw, and Noni Buencamino as Boy Kagaw.

"It’s either you have it or not," Jacklyn argues when asked if talent in acting can be developed through practice. "Kami ni Joel nagbabatuhan lang kami ng linya alam na namin ang gagawin namin. It’s really about passion for acting."

Jaclyn is all praises for the movie, feeling it is good enough for public consumption. She is always into the notion that Filipino audience needs to be spoon fed. "Sa hirap ng buhay ayaw na ng Pilipino na pagiisipin pa sila ng sobra. Kaya dapat ang filmmakers are concerned about whether maaabot ng masa ang pelikula nila o sila lang at mga kaibigan nilang artists ang makakintindi ng mga ‘to."

One of only three Filipino entries to the 31st Montreal World Film Festival, "Ataul for Rent" is described as a narrative social satire that thrives on black comedy which Joel Torre quoted from somewhere that it suggests, "the bigger the laughter, the bigger the pain."

A red carpet premier for the movie is set on Oct. 25, 7 p.m., at Megamall Cinema 10. It officially opens in local screens next month.