From the Philippines to Calgary

Hello, Love, Again" (2024) is an interesting romantic film that hit a few nerves for me (in a nice way).  

 Several years ago a friend of ours had a very positive experience when she hired a Filipino woman to look after her newborn.  She was so impressed she wanted to go into business setting up more of them in Canada.  I have since learned Filipinos are honest workers that often go beyond job requirements 

One interesting conversation I had with a store manager in a north of Toronto suburb regarding an unusual item I was trying to sell--a tooth brush for dogs.  The manager explained that some enthusiastic champions for the brush were Filipino maids.  So many of them had taken on the responsibilities of taking care of the family dog and had decided brushing teeth with my version was good for the dog's health. 

The migration of Filipinos for work is at the heart of this movie so here is a bit of an explanation:   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/07/a-good-provider-is-one-who-leaves.html

There was a prequel that I did not see, that explains how a young Filipino couple got together in Hong Kong and through Covid restrictions (plus misunderstandings) they broke up. The lead male, Alden Richards had discussed with director Cathy Garcia (who subsequently remarried after her first husband died in an auto accident) that he would be interested in a sequel and was later joined by the female lead, Kathryn Bernardo.  In flashbacks we learn Ethan had proposed to Marie-Joy, but had been prevented from actually marrying by the Covid pandemic and later during a one night stand had been caught.

A few years later pursuing a job she ends up in Calgary, Alberta working in a nursing home while his job prospects are not quite as good also ends up in Calgary.  She harbours bad feelings after their breakup.  He seems to feel guilty, but open to getting back together and willing to bend.  You know their mis-understandings will be explained and circumstances will provide opportunities to cross each other's paths.  In many ways a typical romance, but with the concept of where is "home" and how important is it.

What makes it enjoyable (definitely not just laughs) is the cast and crew.  Here are a few contributors:

Cathy Garcia-Sampana was the director.  She directed the prequel, "Hello, Love, Goodbye" (2019) in Hong Kong.  She has been key in the highest grossing Filipino films 9 times with 6 being the highest grossing ones of all time including this one.  She has 43 directing credits, 23 for assistant directing and 14 for acting including "Four Sisters and a Wedding" (2013).

 Carmi Raymundo was a key writer and supervising producer.  She has 68 credits for the script and continuity department, 55 for producing and 24 for writing including "Starting Over Again" (2014),
"Barcelona:  A Love Untold" (2016) and "Rewind" (2023).  You can learn more about two of them at: http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2019/10/four-filipino-movies.html

Kookai Labayen was the producer.  He has 9 writing credits, 11 for producing and 12 for additional crew including one of my favorites,  "Isa Pa with Feelings" (2019).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/12/isa-pa-with-feelings-really-helps.html

Jessie Lasaten was the composer.  He has 189 composing credits, 26 for the music department and 5 for the sound department including "Seven Sundays" (2017) and "Hello, Love, Goodbye" (2019).

Noel Ttthankee was the cinematographer.  He has 46 cinematography credits, 38 for the camera and electrical department and 2 as director including "Four Sisters and a Wedding" (2013) and "Hello, Love, Goodbye" (2019).

Marye Ignacio was the editor.  She has 202 credits as editor, 37 for the editorial department and  41 for additional crew including "Four Sisters and a Wedding: (2013),  Starting Over Again" (2014), "Everything About Her" (2016), "Barcelona:  A Love Untold" (2016), "Seven Sundays" (2017), "Love you to the Stars and Back" (2017) and "Rewind" (2024),  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/08/two-filipino-movies-with-message.html     

Kathryn Bernardo played Joy-Marie, the leading lady.  She started her film career playing the younger version of a leading lady.  Kathryn has also had a successful singing career.  She has a history of being in the highest grossing films.  She has 40 acting credits, 2 for Soundtrack including "Barcelona:  An Untold Love Story" (2016), "Three Words to Forever" (2018) and of course "Hello, Love, Goodbye" (2019).

Alden Richards played Ethan, the leading man.  He owns a restaurant chain.  Alden has been a successfull recording artist.  He has 55 acting credits, 2 for producing and 1 for additional crew including "Family of Two" (2023) and the prequel "Hello, Love, Goodbye" (2019).

Joross Gamboa played a mutual friend, Jhim.  He has 103 acting credits including "Hello, Love, Goodbye" (2019) and "Rewind" (2023).

Kevin Kreider played Joy Marie's boss at a nursing home.  He is a Korean American.  Kevin is known as a skateboarder.  He has 13 acting credits and 2 for producing.

Mostly filmed in Calgary with a slight segment in Banff.  Available subtitled (with lots of English dialogue) on Netflix.

An enjoyable romance and a little feel for the migrant life. 

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  Some of them are among my favorite Filipino films and a big part of my Filipino obsession.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.

Four Filipino movies

Netflix is a savvy marketer.  They have noticed that many immigrants to America love to watch movies from their homeland and at the same time are able to use their expertise to spread culture around the world.  What this means is that by targeting different ethnics with movies in their native language they also offer them for the rest of the population.  Out of curiosity or a desire to learn more many Americans (and Canadians) take advantage of the opportunity to see how the rest of the world likes to tell its stories.

The world is opening up to anyone willing to explore.  Always looking for something different stumbled on one Filipino movie  In a short period of time watched four Filipino movies.  The first was "You're my Boss" which I enjoyed, but admit not quite up to American standards.  But it inspired me to watch "Starting Over Again."  And in turn watched "Everything About Her" and finally "Barcelona".  Really just a glimpse of a different culture (with many Western overtones), but some interesting stories told well.

All movies are stories enhanced by technology and creativity.  It has to be believable at least to the point you can identify with what's happening.  Not that you feel they are telling your story, but that it is about something you can feel.   It helps if the actors look and behave naturally.  Of course some are set up in weird costumes, but there still must be something .  The camera is often taken for granted, but it can.   Music ads to your enjoyment, more so if it fits the story.

"You're My Boss" (2015) was a comedy where deception was a key factor.  One woman was substituting for her out of town boss, but soon, as a Japanese company couldn't at first accept a woman boss, her male assistant pretended to be the boss.  Naturally the couple seemed misfitted.  The male had a rural family and a different way of looking at things.  The woman was status conscious.  Of course they sorted out their differences.  Basically the two main characters were likeable, the plot was comical in parts.  Some very interesting scenery, both in Manila and a rural coastal town.  Directed and co-written by Antonette Javana.  Emerzon Texon wrote the music.  Carmi Raymundo is listed as creative producer.  Hermann Caravail took the cinematography.  Starred Toni Gonzaga as the substitute executive (more on her later) and Coco Martin as her personal assistant.  Coco won an acting award for this film, but at one time was a janitor in Alberta, Canada.


Toni Gonzaga was listed for "Starting Over Again" (2014--pictured at the top).  I thought I could predict the outcome from the title.  The reviews were very favourable.  The story line had to do with the aftermath of a breakup and then evolved into a love triangle.  Humiliation and misunderstandings were untangled.  It did not end the way I thought it would, but poetic.  The acting was really good and the way the plot was laid out kept viewers engaged.  I learned Toni (who deservedly won an acting award for this role) was a singer and I ended buying one of her tunes.  Piolo Pascual also won acting awards for this film and sang a song, having won 2 song awards.  Iza Calzado played the newcomer to the love triangle and looked very sophisticated. One scene I remember with the two women discussing the difference between cooking and baking was informative and metaphorical. 

Again the cinematography was handled by Hermann Claravall.  Cesar Francois Concio composed the music.  Carmi Raymundo is listed as creative producer.

"Everything About Her" (2016) also had good reviews  The two female leads were very good with the male lead ok.  The story was about families that were dysfunctional.  It takes a problem to bring people together; in this case it was cancer.  The mother was highly successful, but very bossy who had driven her husband and son off to America was brought down to earth by a diagnosis.  The young woman who was hired to be a personal nurse also was strong willed, but was resentful of her mother having left the family.  The nurse meets the son; there is of course a little distrust, but ironically they each help the other to forgive.

Directed by Joyce Bernal who also did some editing.  Writing was shared by Mia Concio I enjoyed the background music by Carmen Cuya.  Cinematography by Shayne Sarte.  Carmi Raymundo was the creative producer.  Vilma Santos played the cantankerous matriarch and is the most prolific award winner starting back in 1964 as best child actress.  She has also been elected mayor of Lipa City and Governor of Batangas.  Angel Locsin played very capably the personal nurse.  Xian Lim who is part Chinese and sometimes has Chinese speaking roles played the son.  He had been born and raised in San Francisco before going back to the Philippines at age 18 with his family

"Barcelona" had a moderately high rating on IMDB, but also had three very negative reviews.  A common criticism was about the acting and casting.  Maybe somebody else could have done a better job, but the two leads more than interpreted the story to my enjoyment; they were a delight to watch.  The cinematography was beautiful, possibly noticed more because Barcelona is a gorgeous city.   Over laying the end credits were bloopers that showed the actors had some relief from the heavy emotions.  The film won several awards.

Olivia M Lamasan was the director and had been a script consultant for both "You're My Boss" and "Everything About Her."  Carmi Raymundo wrote the screenplay.  Hermann Claraval did the cinematography.  Daniel Padilla played the male lead and won an award for it.  Paired with Kathryn Bernardo they won movie love team of the year (for the second time). 

The last three were melodramatic with high emotional content.  In all three movies one is aware that Manila is modern looking city and many of its citizens are sophisticated.  It reminds me of Bollywood that ignores the poor and backward in most of its films.  What we identify with is the middle class and what we envy is the upper class.  Even more than in Bollywood much of the dialogue is in English--partly because it is seen as a mark of an educated person, but possibly also because they want to hit a wider audience.

As of 2018 "Manila in the Claws of Light" (1975) was only the second Filipino movie I have seen.  Filmed in 1974 under the direction of Lino Brocka during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.  It was introduced by Martin Scorsese who borrowed the ending for his movie, "Taxi."  There is a love story, but it also carries a political message.  Corruption is very evident.  Not comedic nor melodramatic, but let me know there is a long history of film in the Philippines.

Thanks to Netflix for expanding the world.