You know what you're getting with most softcore potboilers, but I can't say that was the case here. Rita feels modern in some ways, retrograde in others, but it offers surprises from start to finish.
Rita (Christine Bermas) marries Ariel (Victor Relosa). As he goes to Saudi Arabia for an extended job, she is left alone with her brother Marlon (Gold Aceron). Marlon is gay, which Rita finds immoral, which matters less as she begins to sink into her own immorality. Marlon also has a real crush on Ariel, which does not escape Rita's attention.
Soon after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Ariel is sexually assaulted by his boss (credited only as "Arab" and played by Sahil Khan). After initial disgust, Ariel soon begins to enjoy Khan's company, as well as the steady supply of money he can send back home.
When Royce (Josh Ivan Morales), local roughie and friend of Ariel's late brother, catches a lonely Rita pleasuring herself, he surprises her, her disbelief soon turning to passion. Royce is one of the most love-to-hate boo hiss baddies you can find in this type of cautionary tale, and the softcore style means that Morales can go out of his way to fake an acrobatic sex style that shows you just why Rita is so tempted. At one point he kicks over the wedding photo, which is certainly a very pungent symbolism.
Due to the decision to include a shirtless Aceron to the promotional material, you might wonder if Marlon will either be "turned" or end up in Ariel's bed, but he is not involved in any of the sexcapades. The film takes a relatively restrained approach to his struggles, as we see him beaten up at school and counseled by a gay teacher.
The film kicks up a level when a shaken Ariel returns home due to his boss' death. Life should go back to normal, but Rita is still tempted by Royce, and Ariel can't shake his unleashed desires for men. Royce, meanwhile, becomes desperate to pay back his debts. In a shocking series of scenes, he not only begins blackmailing (and brutalizing) Rita, but when Ariel confesses his newly confused leanings to Royce, Royce, more blackmail in mind, seduces him! Ariel is by this point so caught up in his desires he even nearly kisses Marlon, setting the stage for the dramatic and downbeat conclusion.
Some of the undertones of this movie are difficult to digest, but is worth a try if you want a good way to pass a few hours and want to find yourself drawn into a world of characters you connect with much more than you might expect,
Rita (Christine Bermas) marries Ariel (Victor Relosa). As he goes to Saudi Arabia for an extended job, she is left alone with her brother Marlon (Gold Aceron). Marlon is gay, which Rita finds immoral, which matters less as she begins to sink into her own immorality. Marlon also has a real crush on Ariel, which does not escape Rita's attention.
Soon after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Ariel is sexually assaulted by his boss (credited only as "Arab" and played by Sahil Khan). After initial disgust, Ariel soon begins to enjoy Khan's company, as well as the steady supply of money he can send back home.
When Royce (Josh Ivan Morales), local roughie and friend of Ariel's late brother, catches a lonely Rita pleasuring herself, he surprises her, her disbelief soon turning to passion. Royce is one of the most love-to-hate boo hiss baddies you can find in this type of cautionary tale, and the softcore style means that Morales can go out of his way to fake an acrobatic sex style that shows you just why Rita is so tempted. At one point he kicks over the wedding photo, which is certainly a very pungent symbolism.
Due to the decision to include a shirtless Aceron to the promotional material, you might wonder if Marlon will either be "turned" or end up in Ariel's bed, but he is not involved in any of the sexcapades. The film takes a relatively restrained approach to his struggles, as we see him beaten up at school and counseled by a gay teacher.
The film kicks up a level when a shaken Ariel returns home due to his boss' death. Life should go back to normal, but Rita is still tempted by Royce, and Ariel can't shake his unleashed desires for men. Royce, meanwhile, becomes desperate to pay back his debts. In a shocking series of scenes, he not only begins blackmailing (and brutalizing) Rita, but when Ariel confesses his newly confused leanings to Royce, Royce, more blackmail in mind, seduces him! Ariel is by this point so caught up in his desires he even nearly kisses Marlon, setting the stage for the dramatic and downbeat conclusion.
Some of the undertones of this movie are difficult to digest, but is worth a try if you want a good way to pass a few hours and want to find yourself drawn into a world of characters you connect with much more than you might expect,
