One of the best film of 2015, of the Philippine cinema rather. It definitely deserves to be seen!
This is a film of truth and half-truths, of emotions, choices and memory. This is a film that doesn't rely on a certain plot but in the unavoidable impulse of the characters. Unlike Transit which allows us to have enough time to dive in each of the characters, Apocalypse Child gave the viewers a whirlwind of of excitement to understand each of them, what's happening and what the hell will they do next.
Fiona (Annicka Dolonius), 19, young, wild and free, was in the town of Baler keeping her terminally ill grandmother a company. That's all we know about her because she's basically the outsider and without scars of the past unlike the other characters. At first, I can't easily grasp why the 'age' thing was really a big thing, they had two scenes about it and I wonder if the scenes are unnecessary or not until the line saying it's better to learn surfing when you're young and the bus scene in the end (my favorite scene)! Yeah, she's the youngest and suddenly exposed to the mystical town of Baler and to the misadventures of life. She's every characters past where everything's new to her and cannot handle life easily. That's the beautiful thing about the ending, everything's clear, it's a new beginning in the end. The soundtrack, Young again by Armi Millare, is a perfect catch.
Ford (Sid Lucero), is the 'go with the flow' guy. He basically rides with the waves as depicted in his surfing style of life. Without any limits and accompanied by his young mother, he was pictured as a laid back one having inner dark side. Rich (RK Bagatsing), seems the exact opposite of Ford. Growing up with a strict dad and had the opportunity to study abroad, it seems that his actions are always calculated and controlled. But yeah, in the end he learned to let go and ride the waves when he said, 'Let it be.' Chona (Ana Abad Santos), has the most damaged character, clinging to the lies and stories of the past. Ana's portrayal of the role was superb!I guess, the taking off the shoes scenes mean letting go of Chona's past and Rich's controlled attitude. Amidst these mixed of emotions, Serena (Gwen Zamora), is the most composed of all, parallel to Chona's situation, she remained intact on the outside but still broken on the inside, ready to give her 'advance lessons' in life. There are numerous symbolism and metaphors in the film and the cinematography is superb!
Amidst the heavy emotions in the film, nature tends to balance it all. It's amazing how in a laid back place, anything unimaginable can happen. It seems like the characters doesn't care about the consequences of their actions. Maybe it's the alcohol, no, the weed, or the mystical vibes of the place. Whatever it is, the rule of traveling is, whatever happened in Baler, stays in Baler. No, in every place you went to, you leave a part of yourself. And you can't leave a place without extra baggage, whether it's good or bad, it's up to you. And if you will return, as the characters did, or Chona will, one can never see the place the way they've seen it before.
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