Netflix's new tearjerker explores the special bond between grandparent and grandchild

MANILA, Philippines — Netflix Philippines offers another tearjerker flick — this time exploring the relationship dynamics of a grandparent with his grandkid.

Topbilled by Joel Torre and Euwenn Mikaell Aleta (“Firefly”), under the direction of Benedict Mique, “Lolo and The Kid” revolves around a hustler and the child he took in to routinely con the wealthy. A life-changing opportunity, however, could end their inseparable bond. It is now streaming on Netflix.

Loaded with heartwarming drama, the movie will tug at the viewers’ heartstrings and make them cry with the riveting performances of the lead actors and the other cast members, as well as the compelling narrative itself.

The STAR asked Joel during a roundtable interview how they went about those heavy scenes. He said they came on set prepared for what these scenes required.

“We are professional actors, so we prepare for the scenes and I really admire Euwenn because even though he is a child, he delivers. He knows what he’s doing, he knows the demands and the obligations of the scenes. So, in other words, it was easy for us because we came prepared like any professional actor,” said Joel.

According to him, on set the “challenge was whether you could be in the moment.”

“And I think we delivered, and we have a good rapport,” he added.

The veteran actor, who started doing theater at the age of seven, further said that he could see himself in the child star. “Whenever I see Euwenn, I see myself (in him). That’s how I was like years ago.”

He was happy working with somebody from a different age group, he continued. “And the give and take (dynamics on set), that made me happy. At the end of the day, when you go home, (you call yourself that) you did a good a job. That’s our reward as artists. You go home satisfied.”

The entire movie is heartwarming and it could occur to anyone in real life, noted Euwenn. “Just imagine it could happen to anyone because many are poor here in the country and even in other countries,” the young actor said.

Joel likewise pointed out the distinct relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren.

“They say that grandparents are there to spoil their grandchildren,” he told this paper. “The relationship of a lolo and his grandkid is different from that of a parent and a child, which is true. There is an umbilical cord, may it be invisible, but you’re attached to that love, to that relationship.”

He wished that he also had a grandkid whom he could spoil and dote on. “So it has that magic. I see it in my parents, in my siblings. It’s really different when it comes to your grandchildren. I hope we get to that age or to that stage where I can also have an apo so that I can experience it. It’s a different kind of love.”

Euwenn quipped that lolos want to have children because they want to have grandkids.

“Because they see their children in their grandkids when they were young. It’s like they miss (those moments). What they wanted to do with their children, they would do it with their grandkids. There are some parents who didn’t bond with their children when they were little, so they would do it with their grandchildren,” explained the young thespian.

One touching moment for Joel was the bus scene with Euwenn shown in the movie trailer, where he said “I love you” to the latter. “One simple line means a lot,” commented Joel.

“Kindness always wins, and love,” chimed in Euwenn, adding that he loves his whole family. “Who does not love their family?”

The viewers can relate to the film because it speaks about the universal theme of love for family, stated Joel. He stressed that the important things in life are about “your feelings, relationships and the impact that you give to other people.”

“Everything that is part of your life, good or bad, is memorable,” concluded Euwenn.