If there is one film that deserves all the awards last night—it’s the Joel Lamangan gay love story—Rainbow Sunset.
Despite its theme, this official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival 2018, have proven that a good material and storytelling coupled with great acting and directing, the said film by Heaven’s Best Entertainment have earned the nods not just from the festival’s jury as well as those who have come to watch the film.
Like the very words of Loretta Young, “Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.”
And that’s how the love triangle between Ramon, Fredo and Sylvia came into being.
Ideal, Unconditional Love.
Perhaps most of the young generation won’t go for this kind of serious and still less-talked about (even with the strong presence of the LGBTQIA community in the country); they would prefer the much fun and maybe the film with the most identifiable feeling they get. However, the generation of today may have to go and watch this film that headlines three veteran actors—Eddie Garcia, Gloria Romero and Tony Mabesa.
To most, the love triangle is no longer appealing. They don’t have the commercial pull. But is that really how love is these days or most people are just blinded by how the media has fed the minds of the public. Rainbow Sunset is a bold film that has successfully attempted in painting the real face of one ideal, unconditional love between Garcia, Romero and Mabesa.
The three lead characters have been friends for years and they have already accepted their flaws, their strengths and even embraced what love is really all about. When one loves someone, there should be no partiality at all. That’s what the three friends have developed, nurtured and kept for years without even thinking of one possible complication that would turn their lives upside-down.
The Conflict that Shattered Them All.
Though the three lead characters have long accepted the reality of what they have between them—they still managed to keep the matter a huge secret to the public and more so to the children of Ramon and Sylvia.
In a society such as ours, especially when the LGBTQIA community has not been accepted back then—it is far difficult and hurting for individuals who have already knew their sexual orientation and sexual preferences.
Due to debilitating health condition of Fredo (Mabesa); he has cancer and his days are numbered; Ramon (Garcia) decided to stay with his long-time friend and his kept male lover for the longest time. It is his way paying back for all the kindness and love that the man has given him and to his family. Sylvia (Romero), as a wife and as a friend to Fredo, too—she had no objections to the decision of her husband. That part sparked the controversy, the conflict between family members of the Estrellas.
Two of the Estrella children who strongly opposed the decision were Georgina (Aiko Melendez), the current mayor of their town and Emman (Tirso Cruz III); while the youngest Marife (Sunshine Dizon) had opposed for a time but is more having a hard time with her relationship with a younger man (Albie Casiño). Everyone in the family was shaken; even the grandchildren of Ramon and Sylvia.
Despite Sylvia’s consent on Ramon’s decision to spend the remaining days of Fredo on earth; she herself is breaking down. She couldn’t stand to witness how her family is crumbling.
Subplots were Crazy, but were Helpful.
The film is indeed dragging in many ways, but it has compensated in building each characters involved.
The flashbacks were needed to establish the relationship between Ramon, Fredo and Sylvia has grown deeper over the years. The young Ramon (Shido Roxas), young Fred (Ross Pesigan) and young Sylvia (Max Collins) were effective in their respective portrayals.
But among the subplots that were presented—Emman’s part was a bit ‘off’. That part of his scandal involving with his intern was not connected as to how he hated his father for the decision of loving his uncle Fredo. He may have shown disgust toward his daughter (Zeke Sarmenta) who is exhibiting signs of being gay; but where exactly his hatred toward the LGBTQIA community is coming from? Still he was able to give justice to his role in terms of acting. In fact, if Garcia was just given a citation (Special Jury Prize) as opposed to being the Best Actor in the Gabi ng Parangal of MMFF; Cruz III deserved the Best Supporting Actor award and Mabesa should have been nominated Best Actor and tied up with Dennis Trillo for One Great Love.
Dizon’s Marife could also have been more interesting if she herself chose to be a lesbian and was not involved in a May-December love affair instead. She should have been cited as Special Jury Prize and not Collins.
As a whole though, the film was declared as Best Screenplay, Eric Ramos needed to tighten and fix the way he told the story of each characters especially on Emman and Marife.
The twist was brilliant and it succeeded in bringing together the Estrella family as one, again.
Indeed, there is no truth to what John Galsworthy has said: “Love has no age, no limit; and no death.” The love between Ramon, Fredo and Sylvia defied all the odds around them.
Catch this tear-jerker film. It is still showing in cinemas and make sure to bring a lot of tissue papers.
