| Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | |
| Story: | Ricardo Lee Joel Lamangan |
| Director: | Joel C. Lamangan |
| Producer: | Roselle Monteverde-Teo |
| Cinematography: | Rolly Manuel |
| Editing: | Marya Ignacio |
| Music: | Von de Guzman |
| Studio: | BAS Films |
| Distributor: | Regal Entertainment Inc. Toho |
| Runtime: | 106 minutes |
| Language: | Filipino Japanese English |
Aishite Imasu 1941 (from the Japanese 愛しています meaning I Love You; Filipino title Mahal Kita 1941, "Mahal Kita" also meaning I love You mika my loves) is a drama, romance, and war movie released in the Philippines on December 25, 2004, and is a story of love, betrayal and honor in wartime set in the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines (1941–1945) during World War II. It stars Judy Ann Santos, Raymart Santiago, Jay Manalo and Dennis Trillo. It is directed by Joel Lamangan. It is an official entry to the 30th Metro Manila Film Festival.
In the town of San Nicolas, Inya is newly married to her childhood sweetheart Edilberto and are excited about starting a new family. Ignacio "Igna" Basa is Inya's best friend, a transgender woman who has been in love with Edilberto for years. However, their lives are interrupted by the start of the Pacific War in 1941 and the Japanese invasion.
At the start of the Japanese occupation, Edilberto becomes a guerilla leader in San Nicolas and takes the nom de guerre Berto. Ignacio becomes the movement's spy inside the Japanese forces. At the same time, he falls for Ichiru Hamaguchi, a Japanese Army official who returns her affection. Anytime Berto attacks a Japanese patrol, the latter burns a village and executes suspected guerrilla members under direction from Maura, a collaborator. Inya is also suspected as a Japanese spy and tortured by the guerrillas. She later reveals Ignacio's secret to a Japanese officer, Hiroshi, who in turn tells his superior Ichiru. Ichiru refuses to believe until he suffers a nightmare of him holding his father's blood in front of the Americans. He tries to make love with Igna, but the latter refuses. Ichiru reveals that he knew Igna is transgender and he does not care as long as he loves Igna.
A few years later, local guerrilla forces are led by Inya, who replaces Berto in 1943 after he is killed in action. The Japanese retaliate with brutality, hanging the mayor and others. As Igna returns to camp after warning Inya of a raid, she is caught along with Ichiru by Maura and Hiroshi. Igna is beaten, but later escapes with the help of Ichiru and a sympatheric colleague, Akihiro. Sheltering at a house, Akihiro and Ichiru commit seppuku. Igna again is arrested by Maura and Hiroshi and is tortured. Inya then raids the town hall and rescues Igna, while eliminating the Japanese garrison at the cost of several guerrillas. But as Inya and Igna escape, Maura and Japanese reinforcements arrive and shoot Inya. However, she is shielded by Igna, who dies instead, whereupon Inya's men open fire on Maura's vehicle, killing her and the Japanese.
Decades later, an elderly Inya tells the truth about what happened during the war. As the mayor and a historian discuss future plans, including a memorial for the victims, she leaves.
| Year | Organization | Category | Name of Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Best Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo | |
| Best Production Design | Joey Luna | ||
| Best Sound | Ramon Reyes | ||
| Film Academy Of The Philippines | Best Picture | Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions | |
| Best Director | Joel Lamangan | ||
| Best Actor | Dennis Trillo | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jay Manalo | ||
| Best Editing | Marya Ignacio | ||
| Best Production Design | Joey Luna | ||
| Gawad Pasado | 3rd Best Picture | Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions | |
| Best Actor | Dennis Trillo | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jay Manalo | ||
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Actor | Dennis Trillo | |
| Best New Movie Actor | Dennis Trillo | ||
| ENPRESS Golden Screen | Breakthrough Performance by an Actor | Dennis Trillo | |
| Gawad Tanglaw | Best Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo | |
| Young Critics Circle | Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role | Dennis Trillo | |
| Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines[1] | Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions | ||
| Dennis Trillo | |||
| Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions |
| Year | Organization | Category | Name of Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Filipino Academy of Arts and Sciences | Best Picture | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita |
| 2005 | Filipino Academy of Arts and Sciences | Best Director | Joel Lamangan |
| 2005 | Filipino Academy of Arts and Sciences | Best Supporting Actress | Angelu de Leon |
| 2005 | Gawad Urian | Best Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo |
| 2005 | Film Academy of the Philippines | Best Sound | |
| 2005 | Film Academy of the Philippines | Best Musical Scoring | |
| 2005 | Gawad Pasado | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Picture | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Director | Joel Lamangan |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Original Screenplay | |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Editor | |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Production Designer | |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Original Theme Song | |
| 2005 | ENPRESS Golden Screen | Best Sound | |
| 2005 | ENPRESS Golden Screen | Best Original Song | |
| Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos | |
| Raymart Santiago |