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{{Short description|2003 Filipino comedy drama film}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Crying Ladies
| image          = 
| alt            = 
| caption        = 
| director       = [[Mark Meily]]
| screenplay     = [[Mark Meily]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|''Bayad Luha''|[[Mark Meily]]}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Vincent Nebrida
* Jun Reyes
* Tony Gloria
}}
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* Melvin Lee
* Tony Gloria
* Francis Passion
* Jeanne Lim
* Jay Lozada
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sharon Cuneta]]
* [[Hilda Koronel]]
* [[Angel Aquino]]
}}
| music          = [[Vincent de Jesus|Vincent Abenojar De Jesus]]
| cinematography = Lee Meily
| editing        = Danny Añonuevo
| studio         = [[Unitel Pictures]]
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* Unitel Pictures <small>(Philippines)</small>
* Digital Media Rights <small>(US)</small>
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2003|12|25|[[Philippines]]|2004|02|20|[[US]]}}
| country        = [[Philippines]]
| language       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Filipino language|Filipino]]
* [[Philippine Hokkien|Hokkien]]
* [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]
}}
| runtime        = 111 minutes
| gross          = {{Philippine Peso|70 million}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Bayani San Diego |title=Unitel's risk-taking pays off at the box office |date=March 29, 2012 |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/34891/unitel%e2%80%99s-risk-taking-pays-off-at-the-box-office |access-date=2023-06-05 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605083155/https://entertainment.inquirer.net/34891/unitel%E2%80%99s-risk-taking-pays-off-at-the-box-office |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''''Crying Ladies''''' is a 2003 [[Filipinos|Filipino]] [[comedy-drama]] film [[Film director|directed]] by [[Mark Meily]] based on his [[Palanca Awards|Palanca]]-winning screenplay ''Bayad Luha''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lo |first=Ricky |date=October 13, 2003 |title=Crying Ladies is Tony's 'gloria' |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2003/10/18/224550/crying-ladies-tony146s-145gloria146/amp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319222808/https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2003/10/18/224550/crying-ladies-tony146s-145gloria146/amp/ |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=[[The Philippine Star]]}}</ref> The film stars [[Sharon Cuneta]] as Stella, [[Hilda Koronel]] as Aling Doray, and [[Angel Aquino]] as Choleng, who are hired as professional funeral mourners by a wealthy [[Chinese Filipino|Chinese-Filipino]] family in [[Manila]]'s [[Binondo|Chinatown]], while they deal with their personal problems.

The film was released on December 25, 2003, in the [[Philippines]] as an entry to the [[2003 Metro Manila Film Festival]] where it won five major awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for [[Eric Quizon|Quizon]], Best Supporting Actress for Koronel, and Best Child Performer for Pacheco. It was the [[Philippines]]' submission to the [[77th Academy Awards]] for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2018 |title=All The Filipino Entries to The Oscars Through The Years |url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/movies-and-tv/all-the-filipino-entries-to-the-oscars-through-the-years-a00203-20180305-lfrm3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306111239/https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/movies-and-tv/all-the-filipino-entries-to-the-oscars-through-the-years-a00203-20180305-lfrm3 |archive-date=March 6, 2021 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |website=Esquire Philippines}}</ref>

== Plot ==
After the death of his father, Wilson is tasked by his wealthy [[Chinese Filipino|Chinese-Filipino]] family to look for [[Professional mourning|professional funeral mourners]] who will participate in the funeral rites. Despite the waning popularity of [[Professional mourning|professional mourners]], his family insists on hiring them so that his father can have a traditional [[Chinese funeral rituals|Chinese funeral]].

While searching in [[Manila]]'s [[Binondo|Chinatown]], he meets Stella, a cash-strapped mother who has been recently released after serving time for fraud. Despite her initial apprehensions and realization that Wilson's father was responsible for her imprisonment, she agrees to be a [[Professional mourning|funeral mourner]] after accepting a 500-peso advanced payment from Wilson. Stella tags two of her friends, Aling Doray, a former B-star actress who waxes nostalgic about her former acting career under the stage name Rhoda Rivera, and Choleng, a pious woman who vows to avoid sinning after having repeated affairs with her friend's husband Ipe.

During their stint as professional mourners, the three bond and talk about their experiences, struggles, and dreams in life. Stella is sad because of the impending departure of her young son Bong, who will be moving to [[Cagayan de Oro]], along with her former husband Guido and his new wife Cecile. She wants to have a decent and stable job so she can reclaim custody and reunite with her son. Doray frequently reminisces about her acting career, particularly as an extra in ''[[Darna|Darna and the Giants]]''. Choleng is trying to resist Ipe's advances and end their affair and make up for it by doing more religious and charity works.

After the burial of his father, Wilson, who had a tumultuous relationship with his father, forgives him for not being a good father and starts appreciating the good things he has done. He calls Stella to inform her that a Japanese promotion company is hiring entertainers. Stella immediately applies and gets the job, where she becomes a successful karaoke actress. Doray gets an offer to reprise her role as an extra in a sequel of ''Darna and the Giants''. Choleng finally ends her affair with Ipe and is now a marriage counselor in her parish.

==Cast==

* [[Sharon Cuneta]] as Stella Mate
* [[Hilda Koronel]] as Aling Doray/Rhoda Rivera
* [[Angel Aquino]] as Choleng
* [[Eric Quizon]] as Wilson Chua
* [[Ricky Davao]] as Guido
* Julio Pacheco as Bong
* [[Shamaine Buencamino]] as Cecile
* Sherry Lara as Mrs. Chua
* [[Raymond Bagatsing]] as Ipe
* Gilleth Sandico as Becky
* Joan Bitagcol as Grace
* [[Edgar Mortiz]] as Mang Gusting
* [[Bella Flores]] as Lost Lady
* [[Johnny Delgado]] as the Priest
* [[Lou Veloso]] as Barangay Chairman

==Production==
''Crying Ladies'' was based on ''Bayad Luha'', a screenplay written by [[Mark Meily|Meily]] in 2000 as part of his thesis for a screenwriting workshop by [[Filipinos|Filipino]] scriptwriter Armando Lao.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Jazmines |first=Tessa |date=December 14, 2003 |title=Ad vets take on 'Crying Ladies' |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/ad-vets-take-on-crying-ladies-1117897063/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320110642/https://variety.com/2003/film/news/ad-vets-take-on-crying-ladies-1117897063/ |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hau |first=Caroline S. |date=2005 |title=Conditions of Visibility: Resignifying the "Chinese"/"Filipino" in "Mano Po" and "Crying Ladies" |url=http://www.philippinestudies.net/files/journals/1/articles/3302/submission/review/3302-4644-1-RV.pdf |journal=Philippine Studies |volume=53 |pages=491–531 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116101626/http://www.philippinestudies.net/files/journals/1/articles/3302/submission/review/3302-4644-1-RV.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He later entered it into the [[Carlos Palanca Awards|Don Carlos Palanca Awards]] in 2001 where it won the Third Prize in ''Dulaang Pampelikula'' (Filipino Division). [[Unitel Pictures]] producer Tony Gloria read the screenplay and described it as "unput-downable." Gloria offered the lead role to [[Sharon Cuneta|Cuneta]], due to their previous collaborations in ''Dear Heart'', ''P.S. I Love You'', and ''Forgive and Forget''. The role of Aling Doray was initially offered to [[Nida Blanca]] before she was murdered. As such, the role had to be re-written for Hilda Koronel.<ref name=":0" />

''Crying Ladies'' is the first Filipino film that makes extensive use of MILO Motion Control System and also the first Filipino film to be shot on the latest [[Kodak]] Eastman 2 film stock. It is the second Filipino movie to be locally recorded and mixed in Dolby SRD 5.1 technology.<ref name=":2" />

==Release==
===Critical reception===
''Crying Ladies'' received mixed to positive reviews from critics. On [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 92% based on 13 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |date=2003 |title=Crying Ladies |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/crying_ladies |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117041520/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/crying_ladies |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |access-date=November 22, 2019 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 54% based on reviews from 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |date=2004 |title=Crying Ladies 2004 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/crying-ladies |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225061612/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/crying-ladies |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |access-date=November 22, 2019 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref>

The story was praised by several critics. [[A. O. Scott|A.O. Scott]] of [[The New York Times|''New York Times'']] wrote, "Its most winning attribute is a kind of sloppy, unassuming friendliness, a likability aptly reflected in its characters."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=A.O. |date=February 20, 2004 |title=Crying Ladies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/movies/film-in-review-crying-ladies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506150936/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/movies/film-in-review-crying-ladies.html |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> [[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Kevin Thomas]] of ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described the film as "An endearing comedy that deftly blends sentiment and grit and features a clutch of top [[Filipinos|Filipino]] stars."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2003 |title=Crying Ladies Reviews |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/crying_ladies/reviews?intcmp=rt-scorecard_tomatometer-reviews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213173114/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/crying_ladies/reviews/?sort=fresh |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> Eddie Cockrell of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised [[Mark Meily|Meily]]'s direction and the cast's performance: “''Crying Ladies'' moves smartly and evenly under the direction of debut helmer [[Mark Meily]]. Perfs sparkle, with each thesp comfortable navigating between broad comedy and legitimate pathos."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cockrell |first=Eddie |date=September 27, 2004 |title=Crying Ladies |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/crying-ladies-1200530727/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320102709/https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/crying-ladies-1200530727/ |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

The film received some negative reviews. Mark Holcomb of ''[[The Village Voice|Village Voice]]'' criticized the editing, but still praised the film, particularly [[Sharon Cuneta|Cuneta]]'s performance: "[[Sharon Cuneta|Cuneta]] delivers an engaging, surprisingly coarse performance, considering her onetime [[Philippines]]-sweetheart status, and the subtle revelations concerning ritual and loss in [[Mark Meily|Meily]]’s story serve her well. More judicious editing was surely called for, but ''Crying Ladie''s succeeds as first-rate melodrama."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holcomb |first=Mark |date=February 10, 2004 |title=Film |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2004/02/10/film-87/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809210201/https://www.villagevoice.com/2004/02/10/film-87/ |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |website=[[Village Voice]]}}</ref> [[Vincent Musetto|V.A. Musetto]], writing for ''[[New York Post]]'', also criticized the film: "There aren't many surprises as the story unfolds in soap-opera fashion, with a happy ending for all concerned."<ref name=":1" />

==Music==
===Soundtrack===
{{Infobox album
| name         = Crying Ladies: Official Soundtrack
| type         = [[Soundtrack album]]
| artist       = [[Various Artists]]
| cover        =
| alt          = White background with three women crying above. Below is the title Crying Ladies with the credits of the artists in the bottom
| released     = December 25, 2003
| genre        = Pop/rock, R&B, OPM
| length       = 
| label        = Unitel
| producer     = 
| prev_title   = 
| prev_year    = 
| next_title   = 
| next_year    = 
}}
''Crying Ladies'' was accompanied with a [[soundtrack]] during its theatrical release for the promotion of the album. The album contains [[Pop rock|pop/rock]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] and [[OPM (band)|OPM]] songs from various artists such as [[Kuh Ledesma]], [[South Border (band)|South Border]] and [[Parokya ni Edgar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391892/soundtrack|title=Crying Ladies (2003) Soundtrack|date=November 22, 2019|website=IMDb|access-date=November 22, 2019|archive-date=June 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607174154/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391892/soundtrack/|url-status=live}}</ref> It's carrier single Rainbow became a radio smash hit in 2004.{{Track listing
| headline        = ''Crying Ladies: Official Soundtrack''
| extra_column    = Artist
| title1          = Rainbow
| extra1          = [[South Border]]
| title2          = Idlip
| extra2          = [[Barbie's Cradle]]
| title3          = Inner Strength (Love & Faith)
| extra3          = Aliya Parcs
| title4          = Magbabago
| extra4          = Parliament Syndicate
| title5          = My Imagination
| extra5          = All-Star
| title6          = Stay
| extra6          = Boom Dayupay and Angel Jones of Kulay
| title7          = With You Around
| extra7          = Art Strong
| title8          = Para Sa Iyo
| extra8          = Serendipity
| title9          = Goodbye
| extra9          = 604
| title10         = Father
| extra10         = [[Kuh Ledesma]]
| title11         = Madapaka
| extra11         = [[Parokya ni Edgar]]
}}

==Accolades==
{|| width="90%" class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="10%"| Year
! width="30%"| Award-Giving Body
! width="25%"| Category
! width="25%"| Recipient
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center"| [[2003 Metro Manila Film Festival|2003]]
| rowspan="5" align="left"| [[Metro Manila Film Festival]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000431/2003 "Metro Manila Film Festival:2003"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124122319/http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000431/2003 |date=January 24, 2016 }}. ''IMDB''. Retrieved April 9, 2014.</ref>
| align="left"| [[Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| align="center"| ''Crying Ladies''
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| align="center"| [[Mark Meily]]
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| align="center"| [[Eric Quizon]]
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| align="center"| [[Hilda Koronel]]
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Child Performer|Best Child Performer]]
| align="center"| Julio Pacheco
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="21" |2004
| rowspan="5" |[[FAMAS Award]]s
|[[FAMAS Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| align="center"| Eric Quizon
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[FAMAS Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| align="center"| Sharon Cuneta
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| align="center"| Hilda Koronel
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[FAMAS Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" | Mark Meily
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[FAMAS Award|Best Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="12" |[[Gawad Urian Award]]s
|[[Gawad Urian for Best Film|Best Picture]]
| align="center"| ''Crying Ladies''
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Director]]
| align="center"| Mark Meily
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Supporting Actor]]
| align="center"| Eric Quizon
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center"| Julio Pacheco
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Supporting Actress]]
| align="center"| Hilda Koronel
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center"| [[Sherry Lara]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Screenplay]]
| align="center"| Mark Meily
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Editing]]
| align="center"| Danny Añonuevo
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Cinematography]]
| align="center"| Lee Meily
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Production Design]]
| align="center"| Norman Regalado
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Music]]
| align="center"| Vincent De Jesus
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Gawad Urian Award|Best Sound]]
| align="center"| Danny Añonuevo
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[FAP Award]]s
|[[FAP Award|Best Supporting Actor]] 
| align="center"| Eric Quizon
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Kerala International Film Festival]]
|[[NETPAC|NETPAC Award]]
| rowspan="3"  align="center"| Mark Meily
| {{won}}
|-
|[[International Film Festival of Kerala|Golden Crow Pheasant]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[International Film Festival of Kerala|Silver Crow Pheasant]]
| {{won}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Film}}
* [[Cinema of the Philippines]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0391892|Crying Ladies}}

{{Mark Meily}}
{{Philippine submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film}}
{{MMFF}}

[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:Filipino-language films]]
[[Category:Philippine comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mark Meily]]
[[Category:Unitel Pictures films]]