The Bet Collector

Amelita is no ordinary working mom. For the past 20 years, she has been making a living as a jueteng kubrador, a bet collector for an illegal numbers game in the Philippines, while her husband loafs at home. Risking imprisonment, she wanders the urban slums in Manila collecting money from her regular patrons, and she even gets caught once or twice. But corruption plagues the government, and there is always a ticket out of jail if you know the right people. Despite her acquisitive career, Amelita has a devout faith in God as well as numerology; everything is a sign. In the three days leading up to All Soul's Day, her life seems to become increasingly meaningful, and Amelita wants an explanation. In THE BET COLLECTOR, director Jeffrey Jeturian unassumingly observes Amelita's inherently dramatic day-to-day life. Gina Pare̱o, as Amelita, provides a skillful, inspired performance. Winning several international awards, Jeturian's film brings life back to Filipino cinema. (In Tagalog with English subtitles) РE.J.B.