Once in a... Blue Moon (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Joel Lamangan

Writer:

Allan Tijamo (story)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

True love happens once in a . . .

Plot:

Can a love that bloomed under a Blue Moon truly last forever? At a quiet home in Boston, Massachusetts...

Awards:

15 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Eddie Garcia	...	Manuel
Christopher De Leon	...	Rod
Dennis Trillo	...	Kyle
Boots Anson-Roa	...	Cora
Mark Herras	...	Young Manuel
Jennylyn Mercado	...	Young Cora
Pauleen Luna	...	Azon
Polo Ravales	...	Domingo
Tin Arnaldo	...	Peggy
January Isaac	...	Vivian
Vangie Labalan	...	Carmen
Christine Bersola	...	TV Newscaster (as Tintin Bersola-Babao)
Pinky Amador	...	Grace
Reggie Curley	...	Abe
RJ Rosales	...	Reggie

Also Known As:

Blue Moon (Philippines: English title) (short title)

Country:

Philippines

Language:

Filipino | Tagalog

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Camp Capinpin, Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal, Luzon, Philippines

Company:

Regal Films

Trivia:

Initially disqualified by the Metro Manila film fest selection committee allegedly for being a different movie from the originally submitted script. It was later reconsidered after the production maintained the story was the same but was only re-titled. From the original Philippines play date of 25 December 2005 (the start of The Metro Manila Film Festival), it was moved to 1 January 2006.

Soundtrack:

Blue Moon

This comes once in a while during film festivals nowadays, unfortunately

I've since become disillusioned with the Metro Manila Film Festival since I've tried to watch ALL entries two years ago. When Christmas comes along and all foreign movies are shut off from local theaters until sometime along the first week of January, people who are especially regarding themselves as among the upper echelon of this country end up not liking the season much as far as movies are concerned. Sometimes even the discriminating middle class end up hating most, if not all of the movies, or not even giving the local film industry a chance by seeing at least one of the films. Such was the case this year, after getting disappointed by four films I've seen, I've almost decided not to watch anything more for this year's film fest.

I was invited - actually, forced - to watch "Blue Moon" recently by my aunt who was clearly drawn to the film by its script that won a Palanca award (the most prestigious literary award in the country). I'm glad I watched it, and so is my aunt. What I really liked about the film was the fresh twist in a genre that has been trampled upon with clichés in the local movie scene. What makes this a great film is its ability to get the audience lost in its story, never mind the choppy special effects, or the overload of coincidences that may be too much for the suspension of disbelief. Not only that, but the film soared past any contrivances of modern Filipino films by being very well directed, and acted. As a multimedia arts student, I also particularly admire its cinematography and sound design.

With another festival film under his helm, "Ako Legal Wife", which was also produced by Mother Lily, Joel Lamangan was tasked to direct this film. I haven't seen "Ako Legal Wife" so I can't really compare the two, but judging from what I've seen, I think I'd like this better because the premise is built on making us believe the chemistry among the actors were real and consistent despite the change in actors and settings. It's quite easy on paper, yet not all directors here can pull it off (I'm thinking of Erik Matti and his "Mano Po 2"). Lamangan does an impressive job of getting together a great cast for this film that includes Eddie Garcia, Christopher De Leon, Dennis Trillo, Boots Anson-Roa, Mark Herras, and Jennilyn Mercado. One complain I have with the promotion team is how Herras and Mercado get the top billing when in fact it is the trio of Garcia, De Leon and Trillo that really drives the film forward (pardon the pun).

Trillo is best known for his gay role in last year's "Aishiite Imasu". He brings a great presence to the role of Kyle Pineda in the film, one of the three main characters in one part of the film. Herras and Mercado act out on flashbacks throughout. Although their off-camera relationship has gone stale since then, these two have great chemistry on screen. The soul this film represented by the pair is the love story told by Garcia's character. He narrates the story of the two girls in his teen life, both named Corazon (one played by Mercado, the other played by Pauleen Luna). Anson-Roa plays the lady writing to someone we initially don't have an idea whom, but will eventually fall into place.

The story itself is not as simple to write about, partly because it takes place in two different times, mostly because it has a lot of metaphors and allegories to tell. But I'll try to simplify it. An 80-something Manuel Pineda (Garcia) goes out on a road trip with his son Rod (De Leon) and grandson Kyle to find the love of his life whom he lost a long time ago. The movie only clues us as to which Corazon is he looking for although it is implicitly stated throughout the flashbacks.

What makes it even more compelling is that every relationship is not played off as if every single one is perfect among the major characters. It depicts that true love does have fights and arguments that can pull a relationship apart, yet in the end it's the bond that will inevitably pull back together again. It's sappy and the film knows it and embraces it fully, because this is what actually how it is when you're in love. Everyone knows that.

The film is about once-in-a-while opportunities and second chances, filled with scenes of men of three generation bonding together on a road trip and a "love-square" during what I believe is World War II. It poses the thesis of love surviving separation and it is what I enjoyed most about this movie: it shows two different stories going on at the same time. It doesn't get manipulative going back and forth, thus giving consistency to the film as a whole. It all comes to an end that is not heavy-handed, is emotional and when you think of it, is intellectual at the same time.

Controversy regarding the film fest rules and Mother Lily aside, "Blue Moon" is that once-in-a-while breather in a season where good stories and characterization take a backseat for a quick get-go at the box office.