By Bronte H. Lakshmana, reporter
movie review
unmarried
Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian
Produced by Quantum Films, Cinco Films
MTRCB Rating: PG
Annulment is an unpleasant topic, as it involves the end of a marriage and a (usually) bitter fight between two parties to gain custody of children or assets. In a Catholic-majority country like the Philippines, this is a last resort, as most people will urge couples to stay together and work things out. In unmarriedWe get to see what it's like for people who have decided that living together is no longer possible.
Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, this MMFF second Best Picture-winning drama is based on Celine (played by Angelica Panganiban) and Ivan (Zanjoe Marudo), a couple who separately process dissolution through the annulment of their marriage. Although it is based on real-life extinction cases in the Philippines, it doesn't take an entirely serious path to get there. The film primarily revolves around the meeting between the two lead characters, who arrive together at the law office of their lawyer, Jacqueline (Eugene Domingo), after their separate appointments are accidentally booked at the same time. By then, the seed of unmistakable chemistry had been sown between these two strangers.
Before all this, the film begins with Atty. Jackie is also the host of a law-focused YouTube channel that takes her subscribers through the step-by-step process of obtaining an annulment. Both the courtroom drama and love story aspects of the film are beautiful and entertaining, and blend surprisingly well together, which is a testament to the strength of Chris Martinez and Therese Kayaba's screenplay. The film shines when it gets into the nuances, where couples are pressured to relive their traumas and tarnish each other's image, and children are forced to enter into an unfair arrangement of going back and forth between parents.
Ultimately, the chance encounter that introduces Celine and Ivan to each other develops into a close friendship, where they navigate heartbreak and the possibility of starting over. Jeffrey Jeturian's direction is able to blend accessible comedic moments with the nuances of a deep character study – and that's what makes unmarried Such a smooth ride, even for people who have no real-world knowledge or experience with deletions.
Angelica Panganiban was excellent as Celine, a stubborn cavitain who built a successful bakeshop and now wants to cancel her marriage with the rich, elite man who financed her dream (Tom Rodriguez in a one-note evil role that wasn't really worthy of Best Supporting Actor). Although Panganiban didn't win the MMFF Best Actress award, we think she probably came very close with this excellent performance where she grapples with how a controlling man has molded her into something she is not and takes steps to free herself from him.
Django Marudo plays artist Ivan, who struggles with a failing career and subsequent alcohol addiction, leading his beautiful TV reporter wife (played by Solenn Heussaff in a strong return role) to demand his dismissal. Things take a turn for the worse when it's revealed that he was a negligent parent at his lowest. Marudo plays the role of pathetic desperation as well as heartfelt motivation to do better, but it is still Panganiban who carries the film, as she consoles him and believes in him. His inherent charisma and sympathetic acting choices strike a natural chord with everyone around him.
Of course, there's the steadfast Eugene Domingo, whose supporting role as a lawyer serves as the comical yet logical and informative backbone of the story. Through him, viewers can easily separate the legal aspects and get to the bottom of why these annulment cases happen, and what needs to be done to end them – on either side of a custody or property battle. Most importantly, we experience all this with the light touch of a drama-ready comedian. That said, while Domingo doesn't overpower anyone, his character in the film is enough to put the lead characters in the spotlight.
This courtroom drama/unlikely story of friendship between two struggling souls utilizes an ensemble cast, with each character playing a significant role in Celine and Ivan's attempt to peacefully see the end of their respective marriages. A key scene will be Céline's return home to her mother (Shamaine Buencamino), who lovingly embraces her daughter amid the less-than-ideal circumstances in which she finds herself.
As the cross-examination of Celine and Ivan's marriages continues, the emotional depth becomes apparent. In a country where breaking up a marriage is extra laborious, the film suggests that this increases the injury to everyone involved. It breaks down the strangeness of the process and the unlikely lessons that can be learned through it. there is no doubt about it unmarried One of the strongest MMFF films in recent years.