Moonlight Over Baler: Love story is here to stay

Movie trends come and go, but there’s one that is here to stay --- love story. Think of Wuthering Heights, Romeo & Juliet, Camille, Sunflower, Somewhere in Time, An Affair to Remember, Madame Butterfly and La Boheme, great love stories which have been adapted for the big screen many times here and in Hollywood.

At times the titles and venues are changed, but the romantic plots remain basically the same. As the song says, The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by.

Come February, the month of love, a timeless love story is showing in local theaters, Moonlight Over Baler, encompassing two important events in the Philippines, World War II in the ‘40s and EDSA Revolution in the ‘80s.

Produced by T-Rex Entertainment and directed by Gil M. Portes from a story by Eric Ramos, the movie stars Elizabeth Oropesa, Ellen Adarna, Sophie Albert and Vin Abrenica, with a supporting cast led by Daria Ramirez, Menggie Cobarrubias and Angie Ferro.

With the haunting O Maliwanag na Buwan, as theme song, the film is set in the beautiful and historic town of Baler in Aurora Province. The story opens in Baler where a Japanese photojournalist Kenji (Vin) visits the town after covering the EDSA Revolution to write about the classic film Apocalypse Now and to surf on its beach. The Hollywood classic about the Vietnam War was partly shot in Baler.

By an uncanny coincidence, Kenji is the spitting image of the great love of a retired spinster teacher Fidela (Elizabeth). Her great love was Nestor (also played by Vin), a soldier during World War II who was killed by Japanese authorities. He was supposed to marry the young Fidela (Sophie).

Kenji brings back memories of Fidela’s tragic love affair, leading to a special bond between the spinster and the Japanese visitor. Kenji falls in love with a local beauty, Aurora (Ellen). After a violent incident, Kenji is forced to leave Baler and surrender his love for Aurora over the objections of Fidela, who reckons with her sad past. All along, she feels she is to blame for Nestor’s death and carries the guilt and the loss of love.

The ending of Moonlight Over Baler is bittersweet. I won’t even hint at it lest I spoil it.

The film gathers some of the finest actors and promising stars.

Elizabeth is a multi-awardee, grand slam Best Actress for Bulaklak ng Maynila, winning the Metro Manila Film Festival, Film Academy of the Philippines, PMPC Star Awards, FAMAS and Urian Awards.

Daria and Menggie are Urian awardees, she for Sinong Kapiling, Sinong Kasiping and Aguila; and he for Jaguar. Anggie Ferro is an esteemed screen and theater actress.

The dual role of Vin (as Nestor and Kenji) is his biggest and toughest yet. He attended a workshop where he studied how to attack, in a manner of speaking, the dual role of Filipino soldier and Japanese journalist-photographer. Vin asked pointers from his father who worked for many years in Japan. He recalled that his grandfather was a soldier during World War II and also asked his dad how the old man acted and reacted to certain situations.

Vin earlier appeared in Gil’s Hermano Puli, topbilled by his elder brother Aljur Abrenica. Gil was happy with Vin’s acting in Hermano Puli and is even happier with Moonlight Over Baler. Gil said that Sophie is the revelation in Moonlight Over Baler, considering her limited acting experience. “As the young Elizabeth, Sophie did very well,” said Gil.

Sophie is related to Kris Aquino; her grandmother (Josephine Cojuangco Reyes) is the sister of the beloved Tita Cory. Vin and Sophie were the grand winners of TV5’s Artista Academy a few years back. They are said to be sweethearts in real life, which explains their chemistry on- and off-cam.

Ellen is colorful and controversial, saying things like it is. But Gil said that she’s also a fine actress, having directed her in Bayang Magiliw and Twinkle where she merited good notices. Ellen comes from a prominent family in Cebu, confessing she was a “rebel” and “unconventional” even at a young age.

The staff of Moonlight Over Baler is topnotch, among them: Arthur Nicdao (production designer), George Jarlego (editor), Marvin Reyes (cinematography), Francis de Veyra (music), John Wong (visual FX), Rolly Palmes (line producer), Arman Reyes and Mike Silva (associate directors) and Mark Lacay (sound).

The supporting cast: Kate Alejandro, Abel Estanislao, Aaron Yanga, Alvin Fortuna, Dennis Coronel, Benjie Felipe, Jess Evardone, Jun Nara and Blaine Medina.

Moonlight Over Baler is an old-fashioned love story. But then, it isn’t outdated. Those above 40 can relate to and identify with it. But millennials can learn a lot from. At any age, Moonlight Over Baler is enjoyable, entertaining…if at times inducing one to tears.

Well, as earlier said, love story is here to stay. Love is forever.

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