Rare that one discovers a romantic story about two senior citizens who meet and fall in love. The plot gets rarely explored on the big screen, where young stars are often the toast of the cinema.
Normally, the senior stars are given supporting roles. However, in director Benedict Mique’s Monday First Screening, that reunites Gina Alajar and Ricky Davao, both award-winning and esteemed actors and directors, the two stars took on lead roles as real-life senior citizens without hesitation and apparently without qualms.
“I’m really lucky because at my age, I still get lead roles,” Ricky said. “And a love story yet. The feeling is great that Gina and I still get to play leads even at this point in our respective careers.”
In the latest romantic-comedy, Ricky plays a widower, Bobby, who makes the Monday first screening in theaters part of his weekly routine, along with other senior friends.
One Monday, Gina as retired professor Lydia, discovers the screening and was invited to join the group regularly.
Lydia is separated from her husband after the latter’s infidelity, while Bobby’s wife passed away and his son lives away from him. He stays alone in a condo-tel and the one who often absorbs his complaints is the young, male caretaker (Allen Abrenica).
The story is light, nothing heavy that the audience had to deal with. The conflict, however, came so belatedly into the rom-com. And it was also quite petty for Lydia’s daughter (Che Ramos) to bring it up, after seeing the happiness of her mom.
Ricky and Gina are paired anew in an unusual yet heartwarming love story, Monday First Screening, where their characters get to rekindle love later in life. Their elderly characters also get to prove that love knows no age.
With the script written by Direk Benedict and Aya Anunciacion, Monday First Screening also highlights the interesting life of its supporting characters — from Soliman Cruz
The production debut of Net25 Films and released in cinemas by Regal Films, Monday First Screening brought back the lines outside the theaters when the film opened last Aug. 30.
Showing in over 100 theaters nationwide, Monday First Screening does not cater merely to senior citizens but is apt for all ages.