Alone/Together is the first movie I watched this year and what an incredible first movie it was for me to see! After catching the trailer, I immediately wanted to watch it for two main reasons: (1) I wanted to see a film that was partially shot in UP and (2) I became very curious as to what kind of breakdown happened in the relationship and how it would unfold. I don't get to see a lot of local movies at the cinema but I do get to see many on TV and I have to say that Alone/Together is one of the best Pinoy films I've seen. I enjoyed and appreciated it so much that I've seen it twice already.
The film stars Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil - or LizQuen - and as such, one could easily have expected this to be a love team movie that would rely heavily on 'kilig factor' and the Filipino 'hugot' culture to make it memorable and relatable to audiences. As it turns out, this film didn't exactly follow that formula. While the overt theme is about great love, the underlying theme, which is just as significant, is about self-discovery, knowing your worth, and understanding that we shouldn't be defined by our mistakes.
SPOILER ALERT!!! Stop reading now if you don't want to know more about the film.
One of the many interesting things about Alone/Together was how it focused on the conflicts and struggles of the lead character Tin, played by Liza. Obviously, these include what-ifs and chances lost with her great love Raf, played by Enrique, but they also include failures, disappointment, and rejection that prevented her from achieving her hopes and aspirations. The movie tells us that we need to have our own dreams and goals outside the context of a relationship. Towards the end, Tin made a choice to pursue her dreams and as she continued making contributions in the art industry, she did so without a boyfriend. This isn't what you traditionally see in love team movies and I loved it for that.
The ending also wasn't your traditional Pinoy happily-ever-after ending which can sometimes (often?) be too cloying and unrealistic. Yes, Tin and Raf are once again in each other's lives but there's no grand kiss with swirling music and with everyone cheering behind them. In fact, the question in the end is whether they are together again or not. Personally, I think they are but there is no actual confirmation of this and viewers are left to wonder. Right before the credits roll, we see Tin and Raf standing in front of Juan Luna's Spoliarium at the National Museum, which is where they met for the first time. Raf introduces Tin to his baby son whom he had with his ex-girlfriend. I thought this scene had just the right amount of feel-good vibe and conflict resolution. To me, it was the perfect ending.
I've read some comments that say Alone/Together glamorizes cheating. I think this couldn't be further from the truth. The movie clearly makes a stand that cheating, whether physical or emotional, is wrong (Liza tells Enrique that they both have partners and that they shouldn't be like those people who cheat). However, the stark realism in this film shows us how frail and weak people can be, especially when there is no closure and they carry a lot of emotional baggage. It is so easy to be unfaithful, more so when the circumstances in your current relationship are less than ideal. However, the film reminds us that this is wrong when Tin rejects Raf again, saying that she needs to be stay with her partner Greg. When Raf tells her she is being a coward by settling, she tells him that while he may feel that this is cowardice, to her it is courage as she makes a choice to remain in a relationship that is important to her. Clearly, the movie also tells us that despite our human frailty, being unfaithful is still a choice.
I had a conversation with a friend who felt that Tin's reason for leaving Raf was too shallow. While I guess the movie could have depicted this a bit more clearly, I can completely understand why Tin would make that choice. She was very idealistic and had a great, almost unquestionable faith in her ability to change the world. People, especially Raf, held her in exceedingly high regard. Then suddenly, at 21, she gets implicated in a million-peso scam that she could have stopped if she did something but she didn't because of fear. This gets her fired and she realizes that she isn't as tough and brave as she thought. Anyone who goes through something like this will have strong feelings of humiliation and experience a significant lack of self-worth. Tin must have felt she didn't deserve Raf who thought so highly of her. Sometimes, when we face truly life-altering problems, it is the people we love that we are unable to share these problems with, in the same way that some people who learn they have a terminal disease can't immediately tell their family. Why then does Tin not go back to Raf when things have settled and she was in a stable job already? Because by then she was indebted to Greg, who also seemed to be in love with her. Life is never really straightforward, and while it is easy to say we should do or behave in certain ways, in reality, our feelings, our pride, and our insecurities can confuse us and cause us to behave and act in ways that don't make sense.
I also love how Tin almost asks to be with Raf again in the end without actually asking him and how Raf, after having been rejected twice and facing the complexity of having a baby with his ex, couldn't take her back. It kinda felt like a heavier, darker, and more pain-filled version of the classic
Notting Hill scene.
Of course, I have to call out the acting. Such superb performances from Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil! Enrique has been known for a while as one of the best actors of his generation and he again showed his range, with his pleading, hurting eyes and a devotion simmering underneath his calm, well-mannered, and more mature facade. Liza took on what I believe to be the biggest role in her career so far and she has been getting massive raves for her portrayal of Tin. For me, her perfomance here is the best I've seen from anyone since Nora Aunor in Thy Womb. Nuanced, controlled, and expressive, Liza clearly had a deep, genuine understanding of her character and of her character's struggles and conflicts. She wasn't just portraying Tin, she was Tin. If Liza doesn't win at least one best actress award for this film, I will be very disappointed. Liza's performance here was truly a Master Class in acting.
A couple more thoughts. First, I love the social commentary: we should never forget and we should give back to the country. Second, I also love how the film tells us not to be with someone just because they saved you and that we need the people around us to support and believe in us. I honestly have a lot more thoughts but this review is already too long so I have to cut myself short here. :)
I've seen Alone/Together twice now and as much as I loved it the first time, I somewhat appreciated it even more the second time. I can understand why this movie may not necessarily be everyone's cup of tea as it is dark and a bit (a lot?) heavy but personally, it is one of the best Filipino films I've seen in years and I highly recommend it.
