Quite frankly I was hesitant to watch Cinemalaya's Sana Dati for two shallow reasons. One, it has Lovi Poe on it. Two, the trailer felt like it didn't give much or to simply put it... It wasn't enticing or intriguing enough. But I did watch it. And left CCP's Huseng Butete itching to write about Sana Dati.
I'm glad I went against my prejudices and allowed my guts to bring me to CCP. Sana dati is a beautifully written tragic story that truly tugs your heart. It challenges you to see singularity on a different perspective... Yes, the past, the present, the future, the 'all happening in that one single moment'. It defies the usual notion of time-warped-conflicted films. It's the kind of film that makes you want to use unique, exquisite and real in one sentence.
Sana Dati stands out by bravely telling a story of Andrea (Lovi Poe) who decided to marry Robert (Tj Trinidad) after a week of courtship. Her soon-to-be marriage eventually lead her to meeting Dennis (Paulo Avelino), who unknowingly made her question all the decisions that she's made that lead her to that day... To her wedding... To her 'singularity moment'... To the reminiscing of her love for Andrew (Benjamin Alves), the past. To her wedding to Robert, the present. To her meeting Dennis (Andrew's younger brother), the uncertain future and the ironic reminder of what she could've had.
The movie starts off hours before the civil wedding of Andrea and Robert. A year had passed since the demise of Andrea's ex-fiance (Andrew). After his tragic death, Andrea inevitably isolated herself from her family and friends to mourn. It took her almost a year to come back and land to her feet again. As soon as she did, Robert pursued her and "convinced her to marry her". Meantime, Dennis took the job as a videographer to Andrea's wedding, curious to an Andrea she only knew through the stories his brother used to tell. He was determined to know more about this 'perfect girl' who made his brother 'happy'. The film slowly unfolded the intricate stories of four individuals sharing a tragic past up to the last scene.
The film explores not just the hopes of a past wanting to be a present and a future. But it also wove itself into the present, wishing for a past that can neither be a present nor a future. And even if given the chance to change the present for a better future, at least with the help of Dennis that Andrea painstakingly hoped he would agree to, the story unfolds itself to an Andrea sealing her future with the decisions she had to consciously make in the present... At her wedding day.
Did I mention already how my two apprehensions have been justified? I now understand why Lovi essentially became a favorite not just in the Indie scene but also in telenovelas and commercial films. When she plays a role, she plays it so convincingly... She embodies her character and demands for your attention and understanding. As for Paulo and Tj, they are worthy to be applauded as well. Paulo was a master in his craft, playing the mourning younger brother to a demised Andrew. Tj was also convincing playing a conflicted-ex-politician, at some-point a mere second-best who's discreetly desperate, consciously competing for Andrea's love to Andrew. Even Jaime's (Andrea's youngest sister) comedic timing was worth-mentioning as well. As for Benjamin, though he appeared in short scenes, is also worthy of praise. And as for the trailer, it now feels they showed 'just enough' because all the substance was carefully layered throughout the film.
It's hard to write about Sana Dati without giving too much spoilers, really. But it's a must-see film, and I do hope it wins in Cinemalaya. It's that good. Kudos to the writer and director Jerrold Tarog and to the rest of the crew who made the film possible.
Sana Dati will only be shown up until 3rd of August in CCP and Ayala Malls [i think]. It'll be futile to try to catch it in CCP as tickets are already sold out. But try watching it in Ayala malls. And when you're done? Come back and tell me I was right in nudging you to watch it.
