So Connected

Karter (Jameson Blake) works in a small company that makes Youtube videos. When Karter's phone gets stolen, he tracks it down and discovers that it is now in the possession of Trisha (Janella Salvador), who is otherwise a complete stranger. Karter becomes smitten with Trisha, which ultimately leads to him planning to meet her in person.

While watching So Connected, I found myself drawing comparisons with this film and Laxamana's earlier Instalado (2017), where technology is a tool used by people for both good and bad things. So Connected wears the disguise of a romantic comedy, but in truth it asks deeper questions about how we use social media today and how the personal information we choose to share can push ethical boundaries. It's greatest asset is that it provides a neutral viewpoint of these two characters. Like previous reviews have stated, the film does not judge them for their actions; instead, it understands that these actions are the result of the world that has shaped them. Karter's sister acts as his conscience, and the folly of his actions are soon exposed..

In many ways the film also acts as a critique of social media, as it turns out both Karter and Trisha have been shaped by social media in negative ways. It sheds light on the fact that while social media can be curated, it often lacks context, and that fact creates an environment where a culture of shame can thrive. This is one of the first local films to tackle that particular issue. While Karter does get to know Trisha through the photos she takes on her smartphone, it is hardly a complete picture of her life, as one's online presence is often carefully curated, leaving out the bad stuff in favor of the good. Karter may know Trisha's favorite food, but he doesn't know about her family situation, or her true inner thoughts about her life. The microscope of social media is ultimately superficial, and is often based only on the people we want to be instead of who we really are.

And like other films like Her (2013), So Connected shows us a world of lonely people only wishing to make a connection with someone else. It is one of the greatest ironies in the world of social media that while people create these large online personal spaces, they end up being more isolated from each other than ever. So Connected might not exactly be a love story, but it shows us how lasting  connections are truly formed between people - through a gradual, mutual process of knowing one another.