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Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I really wasn't planning on seeing this as it starred Angelica Panganiban and well, I really don't like her. And I'm not a fan of Aga Mulach either, not since the early 90's anyway. I do like Maricel Soriano better than a lot of actresses her age, but one out of three aren't very good odds. But then several people started recommending it to me, telling me I shouldn't miss it, that it was something different,and that I wouldn't be disappointed, and so I thought that well, if I could watch a Sam Milby movie (3 times!), I could watch one with Angelica Panganiban (and Aga Mulach) in it. Besides, truth be told, the actors shouldn't be your only basis for deciding on whether you want to see a movie or not.
So on I went to Market! Market! (Yes, it's spelled with an "!", and you're supposed to say it with feelings too  ) to see yet another local film. I haven't seen one in a while, so I guess I was pretty excited. Plus, this was the second time that I got a guy friend to treat me to a local film (and a romance/drama at that!), but that's another story.
It was the first time I saw a movie in Market! Market! and I have to say, the cinemas in it aren't bad. Nevermind that the mall isn't as pretty as the usual Ayala Mall, it was still a lot better than the SM Cinemas. But enough immaterial information. I'm supposed to be writing a review here, right?
A Love Story. I'm not too crazy about the title for this one. I mean, I am glad that they didn't use another song title, and if you ask me what title would've been able to describe the movie, I wouldn't be able to answer you either. But I just don't think the story/characters were able to depict the usual romanticism of "love"--the risk all, ends-of-the-Earth kind, for it to deserve the title of "A Love Story". At least, not from the first couple shown on screen, which was of Ian (Aga Mulach) and Joanna (Maricel Soriano). Sure, they looked happy, but I think it's easier to relate to the characters when you see exactly how they fall in love with each other. It's just more believable that way. I mean, it's difficult to root for the characters when you don't know who they are, how they met, and what their special moments were. I guess it's done on purpose so as to keep the mystery of their relationship, but it just didn't work for me.
I think the part that showed Karyn's (Angelica Panganiban) relationship with Ian -- how they met in an elevator in Macau, and how they traveled together, and how they had a special game they played with each other, better illustrates how people fall in love. And also, how people fall out of love.
I don't like to admit it but I liked their (Karyn and Ian) story better. Minus all the love scenes (Okay, I'll acknowledge the need for it -- the point was to show how they lived in pure bliss, the first few days (weeks? months? years?) they were together), because really, there were just too many. And for a movie that's rated PG-13, I just think that Angelica showed too much skin. But I guess times-a-changin', and compared to Ian and Joanna's story, I found theirs (Ian and Karyn) to be a lot more romantic. I actually like the game they kept playing (You can only say questions, and the first one who says something that's not a question loses). I liked it better when they "played" it during a dramatic scene, because Karyn's playful nature came out, even during tough times. It's great character-establishment.  Kudos to Angelica Panganiban (what?! I'm complimenting her?!) for giving life to Karyn's character. Where were all these skills when she played "Kikay" in All About Love?!
There were several funny lines throughout the movie (e.g. "You must be the husband."), and some quotable ones (e.g. "Hindi mo siya kailangan, kailangan ko siya."). Well, I don't want to spoil too much in here, for those who haven't seen it yet, but all in all, I guess I'm going to say that I liked it. It's not as dramatic as most local dramatic movies (like the Sharon Cuneta ones), but it wasn't so comedic that you don't take the characters' issues seriously. It's all very well-balanced.
I'd recommend it to people who are sick and tired of too much drama (or Philippine soap operas I should say), but are still craving for a good story that'll make them think, reflect, and that might just make their lives more interesting. 
Oh, and yay! for Alabang Town Center's cameo! Did 'ya catch the fountains in Corte De Las Palmas and Bizu and The Body Shop? :P [Okay, I'm getting a bit obsessed about these (movies with ATC in them, I mean.)]
Posted at 06:27 pm by miriyammqx
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August 29, 2007 10:19 AM PDT
@vanessa: Thanks for coming all the way over here to recommend it to me! :D I'm not regretting I watched it. I really did like it because it's something different from a lot of movies I've seen. I think the way the events unfolded on-screen, was perfect. And I agree with you on how you shouldn't spoonfeed the audience and make them think once in a while. I think that's what's best about the film. :)
Anyway, glad you liked my review, and thanks for the privilege of finding out the explanations from the story writer herself! :P I'll be keeping my eye out for the next movie posters that have your name on it!
-Ida | |
| | | vanessa
August 28, 2007 07:45 PM PDT
Oops!
The painful truth is that he wouldn't have entered into the affair and believed that he loved the mistress if he didn't love the WIFE first. | |
| | | vanessa
August 28, 2007 07:40 PM PDT
Just read your review. :-) Some of the comments were expected, honestly. Even my sisters, when I asked them to view the raw footage, were looking for the "falling in love" part of Joanna and Ian. I guess the title can be a bit beguiling -- there was an inevitable expectation from the audience to know how ALL the characters fell in love. But as you said, what title would be suitable? :-)
And I purposefully did not write that part in because the true love story had to be with the spouses. Also, there was a huge part of me that would have been revolted with a romanticized treatment of an affair. Thus, no long-drawn out explanation of how they fell in love or why: it was already evident. In a way, I wanted it to be straightforward -- what they had was an affair, plain and simple -- because the structure was already complicated as is. All the audience needed to know was that the mistress was there to fulfill a need, in her own words, "pampuno ng kulang."
Furthermore, I structured the film that way to try to get an important point across: the choice of betraying a spouse causes a disorder in the emotions and in the thought process of those in the affair. And it is this disorder in the faculties that leads them to hurt themselves and those they say they love. Which is why when Ian asked the mistress, "Paano kung ikaw ang una kong minahal?" she had to reply "Hindi nga eh." The painful truth is that he wouldn't have entered into the affair and believed that he loved the mistress if he didn't love the mistress first. That was the true order of events and of his life, and asking "what if" was not going to change that.
To avoid the pitfalls of teenybopper movies and audience spoonfeeding, I had to go against that time-tested tradition of spelling everything out and telling the story sequentially. I wanted to take a more intellectual and brutally honest look at infidelity -- when all the confusion is done away with, what is truth and will the characters and audience choose to abide by reality or continue existing in this tainted romantic bubble?
Personally, I felt there is always more pain tap into when you look at reality for what it is -- when you are shaken from a "movie-like" existence to deal with the ugly truth of your life. Just when the mistress thought she could pretend the wife didn't exist, she realized that she was hurting another actual living human being the way she was hurt before by another woman. Just when the wife thought she had the perfect marriage that didn't need fighting for, the discovery of the affair forced her to beg and plead in a way she wasn't used to. And just when the husband thought he could continue living a double life, those two formerly separate worlds have suddenly merged into one messy universe.
Ah, I know -- so much to say, and so little screen time to say it. How I wish some of the scenes that went to the editing room floor could be restored but I think the movie can stand on its own. The movie as it is right now is as straightforward and as honest as it could be, and according to my sisters, after watching this final edit, they felt the pain more. Oh well.
Anyway, thank you for the review -- and for watching the film. Your insights are very much appreciated. :-)
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