short thoughts on Mr. and Mrs. Cruz

When we see Gela (Ryza Cenon) and Raffy (JC Santos) arrive at Palawan, the premise feels oddly familiar, as if it were cast from the same mold as other local romantic comedies: the film takes place in a scenic location (Palawan), and it features two characters finding each other while dealing with their respective heartbreaks. Comparisons can be made with this film and other recent romantic movies like Siargao or That Thing Called Tadhana.

But it would be a disservice to call the film cliched, as it innovates on the genre in interesting ways: the nature of Gela and Raffy's heartbreak is both similar and dissimilar -  both are rooted in leaving a long term relationship, but they mirror each other at the same time - creating an interesting dynamic towards the end of the film. In addition, during its last third, it becomes strangely self aware, its characters seemingly cognizant of the fact that they're in a romantic movie.

Mr and Mrs. Cruz acknowledges the artifice of the romantic comedy; the film reflexively contemplates the unlikely events that led to Raffy and Gela meeting in the first place, and perhaps audience expectations that, by the end of the film, Raffy and Gela will have found each other and life happily ever after. At the same time, it manages to tell an interesting story about two broken people trying to understand the root of their heartbreak through someone else's perspective. To that end, the film is mostly packed with long conversations between Raffy and Gela, ruminating on the nature of love and commitment. But it's not only in the conversations that the film manages to make its point; it's in the meaning behind words, in subtext, in silent gestures. There's a great scene near the end of the film where the two characters, now having achieved a certain level of trust with each other, just pour their hearts out. It's a wonderful performance by both Cenon and Santos, whose chemistry together elevates the film.

Director Sigrid Andrea Bernardo's filmic work traverses a variegated patchwork of romantic permutations: first love in Ang Huling Chacha ni Anita, old love in Lorna, love in terms of distances in Kita Kita. Mr. and Mrs. Cruz looks back at what has come before and reflects on these notions, going straight to the root of all relationships - communication, empathy and understanding - and building something entertaining and meaningful from it.

a few thoughts on Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes

(Busting this out as fast as I can because it's busy time.)

Lianne and Cindy Reyes are both happily married to their husbands. Or at least that's what it seems at first. When they learn that their husbands are having an affair with each other, they team up to get to the bottom of the situation.

A lesser film would have taken sides. A lesser film would have played it out in the tried and true tradition of the infidelity film and made the thing sensationalistic, trading nuance with trashy drama. A lesser film would probably make Lianne and Cindy the heroes of the story, while categorically condemning the husbands. A lesser film could also have championed the husbands' exploits while dismissing the real pain they inflicted on their wives. But the writer/s and director of this film understand that the situation is far more complex, and ultimately that's to the film's benefit.

It's right to be true to one's self, but it's wrong to do so without a sense of transparency and candor. It's right to be angry at someone for abandoning you, but it's wrong to be petty and vindictive. The film tackles all that and includes the social factors that shape each character's decisions. There is no communication because of a culture of shame. There is ignorance, which breeds confusion. There is a sense of righteousness because people do not stop to empathize.

And remarkably, as nuanced and thoughtful as this all sounds, this is still a very entertaining, "mainstream"-flavored Star Cinema comedy. Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban have great chemistry together, and a minor supporting performance by Nico Antonio is so noteworthy, his character almost steals the show.

Ang Dalawang Mrs Reyes is a great example of a film that remains attuned to mass sensibilities but still manages to make its audience think and manages to address relevant contemporary social issues as well. 

Happy new year one and all.