Feel it Instead

Let's stare at each other

Dinig Sana Kita is the indie-kilig, a crossbreed of High school Musical and the gummy bear film series starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo. I am certain that this will rake megabucks in the succeeding screenings. And if the screams resonate to unbearable excess, hopefully no one gets out of the movie house with bleeding ears. I was silent all throughout the screening. I myself could not get away with its sweet assortments. Yes, they made my heart scream in abysmal silence, at least no one would hear.

The film is simple and very basic; it is about the love between two people. At first, you might get baffled with how these two characters will work on-screen. But they did. Niña (Zoe Sandejas) is the typical angst-rich girl who loves music. She is the vocal singer of a rock band. Kiko (Romalito Mallari) is a deaf-mute who loves to dance. One intense night, they both got into trouble. Unfortunately for Niña, the school administration was all ears regarding her whereabouts for her rebellious behavior and decided to kick her out. But Dr. Raffy Mendoza (Robert Seña) mediates and asks Niña to reconsider a sort of retreat with deaf-mutes in Baguio. Upon Niña’s arrival, Kiko remembers her face. He was a bit attached and intrigued with Niña. One day, Niña’s behavior has caused a minor disturbance in the activities and Kiko immediately helps, causing Niña to make more violent outbursts which she directs towards Kiko.

Something is wrong with Niña. There is a cause of her recalcitrance. It goes somewhere deep into her personality. We could easily predict that it has connections with her past or even family matters. While watching this film, I remember Agaton & Mindy. It has a similar anti-tragic and the anti-romantic kind of film. There is nothing wrong with it to be honest. Going back to the similarities, Dinig Sana Kita is more polished in terms of technicalities. Niña is also more likeable. She could be the polished version of Mindy with slighter insanity for the sake of better perception for the audience. Kiko is not just a talent but also has the magnetism especially for the romantics. These aspects are important because it is a romantic film and the two leads should have film presence to be a viable love pair.

Just like what Gallaga did in Agaton & Mindy, the love aspect is not the entire focal point. Given that the characters have attitudes, the problems arise not merely in connection to the possible love between the two but also with their interrelationships with the people around them. Niña does not go along very well with her father. Kiko is an orphan. See what love can do between these two people. They only face their problems when they get inspired by someone. It is also possible that it gives them courage to make a move. The story progression is a bit calculative with the events but it seems that the resolution ends the way it is expected to end. That is again the artsy factor of indie-kilig made films.

Dinig Sana Kita could pull you on a personal level. It seems that anyone, even those who are not deaf, could easily relate to it. It is easy to like this film and the two characters are lovely as well. Well, it could lack the artistic vision that Cinemalaya is looking for. But Dinig Sana Kita gets hold of audience that could sustain its aim for a wider territory in terms of reaching the common people. In that way, it still succeeds. This could be your pre-New Moon screening. You know what I am talking about. If you do, Dinig Sana Kita will definitely make you listen.

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Charlie Koon's Rating: