Where love springs eternal

Last night I was at Greenbelt 3’s My Cinema to watch the special screening of Filipinas, Viva Films’ entry to this year’s Metro Manila Filmfest. When Richard was first offered this movie I saw the script lying around in the house and the title of the movie did not particularly interest me because, in my mind at least, I was dead sure it was a historical movie about the Philippines or about nationalism. Not that I have anything against that – I just know I will choose a drama or love story anytime.

As luck would have it, I had a chance to browse through the script from time to time (especially when stuck in traffic in the car) and learn more about the story as Richard worked on it. I then realized that Filipinas was, in fact, a family drama. And the only reason it is entitled so is because it very simply is the surname of the family the story revolves around.

The movie has a powerhouse cast – under the masterful helm of well-loved and well-respected director Joel Lamangan – starring Maricel Soriano, Dawn Zulueta, Aiko Melendez, Armida Siguion Reyna, Raymond Bagatsing, Wendell Ramos, Victor Neri, Anne Curtis, Sarah Geronimo, Andrea del Rosario, Richard Kwan, Sunshine Dizon, and Richard Gomez among others. It opens with Maricel’s voice, playing the role of the eldest child Yolanda, recounting the lives of the different members of the family and the many colors of their personality.

I will not attempt to dissect the movie by its technical and cinematic merits. I will go as far as saying though that Filipinas appealed to me because basic as the plot may be (by that I mean so many movies have already been made about the family) it is a movie that every Jose and Maria can relate to – stark in its simplicity, relevant in its truths.

It has all the ingredients and complexities of the typical family unit – the camaraderie, the conflicts, the pressure, and yes above all, the love. It is a movie that makes us touch base with specific areas in our own personal lives as well. It also defines the harsh realities of the present time; how the state of the nation and conflicting political views can either tear or bring a family apart, how the pursuit of greener pastures makes goodbyes even more painful than it already is, how educational degrees cease to matter when looking for and landing a job to cope with hard times. As for the emotional side, Filipinas highlights the pages of one’s emotions relative to his/her relationship with the other members of the family. There you have the resentments unresolved issues bring, the tension triggered and sustained by opposing views and different opinions, the hope of hellos and the pain of goodbyes, the merits of success and the desperation brought about by the pursuit of better lives, the irony of how tragedy can bring together a family.

What I appreciated most about the movie was that the director does not attempt to make you cry copious tears at every turn. Heart-tugging moments happen matter-of-factly, very simply as the story unfolds. So if you find yourself shedding a tear or two, it most likely will be because that particular scene seeped through a pocket in your mind and heart.

I have many favorite scenes in the movie but one that stands out, ironically, is the one that has almost no dialogue at all. It is that scene in the hospital where Samuel and Emman (played by Richard and Victor respectively) hug for one brief yet poignant moment. It was in that split second that I felt the heart of the movie the most.

Filipinas is a movie about the family and the many threads that bind and define it. It is a movie that defines the age-old truth of love conquering all. As the last scene fades away you leave the theater hopeful, affirmed in the knowledge that for as long you know what matters most, happiness will not be too far behind.

After all, where love springs eternal hope is.