Country: Philippines
Release Year: 2024
Director: Ivan Andrew Payawal
Writer: Ash Malanum
Language: Tagalog, Filipino
Genre: Drama, Romance
Runtime: 43 min
Cast:
Mike Liwag, Jesse Guinto
Joshua De Guzman, John Cheme Sta. Maria
John Kenneth Caballero Jr., Kevin Dy
Studio:
The IdeaFirst Company
Vivamax
Imdb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34149402/
At first glance, this film appeared to be a bit risqué (I had my reservations in the initial five minutes), yet it transcends that impression. It genuinely portrays a couple with contrasting views on their relationship, and this rift ultimately leads to their downfall. Directed by the creator of Gameboys, I honestly anticipated more depth because the storyline feels quite minimal. The emphasis leans more towards addiction, relationship adjustments, and the question of when enough is truly enough.
The storyline is straightforward. Kent and Harvey have been together for seven years. Kent has always been into group activities, and in fact, he first met Harvey at one of his gatherings. Sparks ignited, leading them to pursue a relationship. Kent even convinced Harvey to agree to an open arrangement, which Harvey was fine with. However, currently, Harvey feels overwhelmed and requests Kent to halt these activities, suggesting they focus solely on each other. The couple engages in several heated yet intricate discussions about Kent's inability to change, Harvey's insistence on stopping, and the necessity for them to concentrate on their individual intimate lives. Clearly, the two men care for each other deeply, but after seven years, their desires diverge significantly. Harvey is resolute about ending the relationship if Kent remains unyielding, but will this be an easy decision for him?
The film runs for just under an hour, and initially, it seems like it could be poorly made, but it delves into the subtleties of open relationships, presenting another viewpoint. It doesn’t favor one side over the other, allowing us to understand the perspectives of both individuals. As viewers, we can appreciate both arguments and recognize the validity in each, making it challenging to take a definitive stance. You simply absorb both sides, and depending on your personal beliefs regarding open relationships, you might draw various conclusions from the film. Personally, I believe the film could have benefited from reducing the explicit scenes, as they somewhat undermined the seriousness of the topic for me. Additionally, with such a brief runtime, it might have worked better as a concise story or could have included more content to create a well-rounded narrative rather than leaving it open-ended. It also ties into expectations. I might not have thought highly of the film, but knowing the director’s previous work, I anticipated something more substantial.
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