Joey Gosiengfiao said in a rare interview before he passed away that he considers this film as his best effort, even more accomplished than his now cult classic "Temptation Island". Bedspacer or oftenly credited as "Bedspacers" with an "s", centers on student life during the heyday of Manila's University Belt in the late 70s. The story revolves around three lady dormmates played by Alma Moreno as a basketball muse by day, prostitute by night, Rio Locsin as a social climber and Amy Austria, a naive provincial lass who gets knocked up by her boyfriend (played by Orestes Ojeda). It also has an interesting subplot involving a rebellious Mark Gil and his love affair with a sexy teacher/mentor. Storyline is very typical of Filipinos films of this era, with social realities brought to the fore like poverty, lack of opportunities outside of Manila, students forced into prostitution and/or abortion, etc. But what sets this film apart from those made by Brocka, Bernal and De Leon is the trademark risqué acting and dialogue only a Gosiengfiao can muster. Actors perform larger than life, very cartoon-like and the dictum "it's so bad, it's good" applies here. His blocking and framing is very rigid, owing to Gosiengfiao's extensive theater background. Outside of that, this film should at least be preserved for its nostalgic value as a documentation of the old Recto (especially for UE and San Sebastian alumni where most of the school scenes were shot). You also have interesting cameos of Anita Linda, Rosemarie Sonora, William Martinez (who would only get noticed until Bagets in 1984), Laurice Guillen, Michael De Mesa, Mary Walter and Lupita Soriano. If you dig campiness in the tradition of John Waters, Russ Meyer or the catfights in Roger Corman films, then you should see this one, but the mere sight of the girls in au naturel alone is worth the one and a half hour.
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