MANILA, Philippines - A year after she megged last year’s highest-grossing independent film, Kita Kita, director Sigrid Andrea Bernardo is back with another relationship film that is quietly provocative and yet so breathtakingly beautiful.
Yes, there are only two main characters (JC Santos as Raffy and Ryza Cenon as Gela) but they get to interact with other supporting cast members like Yayo Aguila and Dennis Padilla for a much-needed breather.
By coincidence, they sport the same surname and that is enough for their companions in the Palawan tour to conclude they must be Mr. and Mrs. Cruz.
Strangers at first sight, the thing is the rapport develops without effort and their conversations reveal their personal taste. Gela loves Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Raffy thinks the characters are silly for doing what they did: Kill themselves.
Indeed, destiny allowed them to meet in Palawan and in one drunken moment, their unhappy past gave way. Raffy is recovering from the trauma of a bride, who left him on the day of the wedding. Gela is a bit remorseful she left a husband of a few months to find herself.
In the process, direk Sigrid wove a realistic tale of characters in Mr. and Mrs. Cruz and how they coped and managed and yes, finally moving on.
As writer, direk Sigrid has a special kind of sensitivity that allows her to plumb into deeper emotions without the hue and cry of characters from teleseryes.
For another, she is able to capture essential moment that is really love in the making.
Two lost souls exchange bitter past and realize the whole unhappy marital scenario probably happened for a reason.
But they are careful not to start anew that easily. Gela asks for more time. Raffy thinks this thing between them is pure destiny.
But after capturing their beautiful moments as their heart and soul merge, the film leaves you a huge emotional vacuum you can fill up with your personal input.
The acting is spontaneous but there is no doubt this is probably one of the best for JC Santos and the most revealing for Ryza.
JC has no matinee idol look but when he becomes the character he plays, he is worth a hundred box-office stars. Good thing Ryza provided the rapport without effort.
The musical scoring is a big plus. Neither lachrymose nor calling for attention, the music flows at the right moment.
One has no love lost for millennial singing groups, but one thought the songs Istorya and Before I Let You Go (originally by Freestyle) by The Juans and Nicole Omillo have never been more apt.
As for direk Sigrid, she is proof that direction is effortless when you are true to yourself and equally true to your audience.
Like Jun Robles Lana, Sigrid is outstanding both as writer and director.
Produced by IdeaFirst Company, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz is now showing in cinemas.