Dust Everywhere

Did you find my daughter?

Last Viewing is a dramatic film with special cameo appearances of questionable human beings. These pseudo-extraterrestrial caricatures could easily snatch the limelight from Janice de Belen. Just a sight of them could induce violent attacks from fellow viewers and mild hallucinations. On the lighter side, this is Janice’s most subtle dramatic performance so far. Pity for her as the claws of disapproval made her efforts descend unto nowhere.

Laura (Janice de Belen) is a crematory supervisor. A simile of her way of life could be compared to the lifeless humans they are serving. But she is living so we expect more tension from her part. On the first part of the story, her father dies. But she responds without a hint of grief. Possibly for a tainted past when she got pregnant in her teenage years and she was thrown out of their house. And she moves on quickly with her brother Arnel (Sherwin Ordonez) and her daughter Heidi in Manila. One day, her daughter who has autism got lost in a crowded street near the church. Things begin to change as the cold lady catches light of a full spectrum of emotions that was buried for a long time.

Last Viewing is one of those films wherein they will put a well-defined character into a situation. It’s sometimes in connection to her career and the future. As for these stories, it will either sink or swim. Last Viewing for peculiar reasons gets swollen. The idea itself is presumably enough for synopsis. It has fuss and feathers all throughout the story. If we write stories, we have to ensure that our methods of enriching the idea we had in mind still have focus.

But then as the story progresses, it has fused some elements of rubbish and insignificant interpolations of overdramatic actors. The intention is deeply unbearable. There is a probable cause for a collapse in the story, as if termites could possibly macerate future unused emotions I have. Cremation will be a great alternative.

Last Viewing is a disappointment. But this does not apply with de Belen’s acting foray as a troubled cold mother. Even with a subtle approach due to the nature of her character, people will certainly extend an arm or two to sympathize. The courage, sorrow and righteousness can also be masked with a cold demeanor. It is a form of a defense mechanism. But in the end, our glimpse of our existence could only remain in our memory. See, at least we could still learn from the film despite its flaws. I’m extending a helping hand if viewers could get maddened with it. Just blow the dirt out of your nostrils if you are not pleased.


Charlie Koon's Rating: