That Thing Called Tadhana

One's first impression for That Thing Called Tadhana is it's a local rom-com with the style of Before Sunrise, since it's a long walk of conversations. The film is mainly about a girl who meets someone who she can express her emotional pain from a recent heartbreak. The entire movie is basically as simple as that, it somehow abandons the clichés of where a long conversations like this usually lead to and instead just be an example of what we love about human interaction. It can be blissful and bitter, but what's important here is to let these two naturally grow their relationship. The beauty here is it never compromises with demanded formula and just lets itself be honest about their fate.

This is basically a change of pace of the two, taking a break from their ordinary lives and finding a way to let go of the worst of their past by just talking out their backstories, drama and interests. It doesn't matter if they ever end up together, those discussions aren't only sweet talk or anything that would necessarily lead to romance, they are simply just honest conversations that share each other's cynicism, joys and mistakes until one gets relived from her bad memories. But out of this adventurous bond, you can really see how these two develop genuinely, feeling that they are really moving on in a new phase of their lives.

And around those meaty interaction, there's a total appeal in their road trip. From the city of Baguio to the mountain top of Sagada, the way they shoot these places just adds more things to love in these moments that already owns a rich personality. The lead couple can be quite charming, even with the amount of criticism and bitterness in their heads, they're basically just being relatable. Angelica Panganiban is the soul here, she carries the energy and the heart of these conversations, and that is absolutely what this character is meant to be. While JM De Guzman makes a good pair for not always taking the pain of his partner seriously until it becomes a big deal for the both of them.

That Thing Called Tadhana immediately triumphs in its honesty to its storytelling and opinions towards love, letting go and other stuff. The narrative doesn't need anything more than settling with these two characters trying to find a light after a disappointing and hurtful past. It's sometimes enough for just finding someone to tag along and run away to an unexpected vacation, despite of involving some awkward situations. Even in these simplest moments, it brings a satisfying solution from such emotional burden. That Thing Called Tadhana speaks more from the soul of a relationship because that is what makes it truly special.

I am not a typical fan of the Filipino romantic-comedy genre, but this film is definitely one of my favorites under this class. "That Thing Called Tadhana" has a brilliantly crafted story-line, yet modestly simple. The plot literally comprehends only two subjects who are the protagonist couple. The love story is basically a strangers-into-lovers development. One of the noticeable innovations in this films is the lessened use of background music in every scene. Background soundtracks or music are generally mood setters for a particular scene. The scenes in this movie did not make use of such accessories. It primarily relied its witty dialogue, impressive acting of the actor and actress (especially Angelica Panganiban) and beautiful cinematography. Moreover, the symbolisms or analogies used in the movie significantly and perfectly reflected the plot of the story. A manifestation of intelligent writing. "That Thing Called Tadhana" is a standout among Filipino romantic-comedies!

While Love is unconditional, constant, and unchanging, the WAY we love is always different. People should hopefully take comfort in the fact that that makes, not only way you love someoone unique, but YOU unique as well.

Unfortunately, people tend to also forget that many relationships are finite. It's been said, "It is interesting to note that people can easily recognize when a relationship begins, but are unable or unwilling to recognize when a relationship ends."

Mace is a broken-hearted young woman coming off an 8-year relationship with her boyfriend who is living in Rome. Angelica Panganiban plays the role so realistically, you can feel her anger, frustration, and sense of loss. I would wager than anyone, who has ever been where she is, has felt exactly how she feels.

Anthony is a young man also returning home from Rome, and he sees Mace struggling to lighten her suitcase in order to meet the weight criteria. He decides to help her. He's also there through her rants and outbursts, but somehow, we get the sense that he understands her plight.

This is a film that reminded me a lot of "Before Sunrise," a brilliant movie where two people walk around Vienna getting to know each other. However, in this case, it's about two people spending time together, helping each other to heal. While Mace's hurts are recent, we discover that Anthony is also carrying some old hurts and regrets as well, but he's able to find ways to help Mace.

Angelica Panganiban and JM De Guzman are simply brilliant, and more importantly, real. They know their characters inside and out, and they are also very relatable. They could easily be anyone who has been where they are, and because the story is told in such a realistic tone, it works tremendously well.

Perhaps Mace will realize that making someone else the center of your life is always a disaster waiting to happen. Unless you love yourself first, you cannot give what you do not have. Relationships are never about finding someone to complete you. They are always about sharing your completeness with someone else. That is the secret!.

In any case, you learn from past relationships to find what you want in future relationships. And hopefully, when a relationship ends, you are grateful to that person for the time spent and wish them all the best as they continue their own journey.

A movie first must get notice in its domestic circuit, then rest of the world come check it out on the curious. I don't know this was a blockbuster or not in the local market, but heard lots praise for it, especially, from the youngsters. I have seen only a few Filipino movies and this one was one of the good films. Very very similar movie to 'Before' trilogy and a fine beginning of the series. Yes, I heard the second movie is already in talk, so guessed probably it going to end as a trilogy.

Unlike 'Before' trilogy, this movie is not set in the casual manner, between the two. Most importantly, it's a road movie, a travel tale. The one of two who meet are affected by the recent love failure. So, the narration concentrates mostly on romance and about mending the broken heart. A pair of two actors with a good chemistry and nicely shot in the beautiful places. Like advertising Filipino tourism, the movie takes us to the finest locations.

It commences just after the 8 years of romance ended for a woman. It does not show how, but later revealed by orally. Beautifully brought those heartbreaks and heartache on the screen. How the boys and girls mourn for their broken relationship was presented quite impressively. All the good times spent together pops out in the front and the rest of the stuffs are just pitch black. Even after breaking their heart, they feel they want to forgive them and give a second chance.

There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice.

I liked the honesty in the movie, I mean the characters talk as in reality, not the craps. If you ever was in love and saw the failure, you would know what I meant. Whatever the account between them, the animation narration was the plus point in this whole storytelling. The story begins with an arrow asking a question for a lost heart. And the answer is the movie itself that you are going know in the end. It might not understandable by the serious people, but morally appeals to the lover boys and girls, I mean to the guys who are insanely in love with someone.

I thought it was about and for youngster, actually it's about the people who are on the leap from there to the middle age. So, the crisis here is, the chances are fading away to fall in love madly, crazily again. Those days, the playful younger days are gone, what should be done now onwards is the movie that chronicles with lots of fun, emotions and a simple twist at the end. Though, the end was not properly explained, but leaves open. I'd say save whatever you are going to predict it to be, because like I said the sequel's quest to fill it up. But I hope it makes the same impact as this one did to me.

It's more like a 'coming-of-age' for those who are between teen and middle age. I can't say it was the best, but a good movie. Since the loop is open, all I can do is wait for the follow up. Who knows, after the second and even better third movie, it might pop into one of the best romance-trilogies ever. So I'm keeping an open mind here. Hope they won't mess it up. In the meantime, you can give it a try because it was not any nearer to be called bad and I'm sure you would enjoy it if you like a simple romantic tale.

7/10

One of the most endearing assets that 'That Thing Called Tadhana' has is that, while it follows a simple storyline, it is delivered with utmost sincerity and honesty. The film arrives in an age of Philippine cinema where the romantic comedy genre is defined by its capacity to deliver and imbue "kilig" to the audience; it is expected to get silenced and drowned by the loud clamor and screams for the widely familiar romcoms headlined by today's biggest loveteams like KathNiel and KimXi, but it nonetheless, survives and sets itself apart, a quiet star amid the sea of supernovas.

The story begins with a chance encounter: a man (JM De Guzman) trying to lend a hand to a stranger trying to forget her past and its heartaches. They start a journey that both of them don't know where it ends; it seems unlikely, but throughout that trip, something that isn't familiar, develops, it moves in a lazy pace, but it nevertheless feels right and heading to a better place. TADHANA's message is delivered in quiet and unassuming ways, yet it's recognizable, and speaks in deafening volumes to everyone who shares the same struggle that both the leads are undergoing.

Without the female lead's (Angelica Panganiban) seemingly endless rants and emotional outbursts, the film is naturally quiet and calm. This is the film that isn't too reliant on music or any heavily orchestrated score to set its mood or enhance whatever it is that is already there, instead, it lets its own natural melodies hum and conjure the necessary emotions needed to make every scene work. That being said, you would also realize, that every time it makes use of music as an emotional tool, it works perfectly and delivers the shiver in numerous folds. You would applaud on how endearing and genuine the performances of our leads are; in spite of the cliché lines they throw now and then, it is how realistic their presentation of both their dialogues and characters, that make the two and their stories, really relatable. Angelica is brilliant here, so is JM, and together they make an undeniably overwhelming chemistry.

The question "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" rings throughout the whole movie. As our protagonists take attempts to answer it, the film makes us travel from Rome, Manila to Baguio and to the breathtaking landscape of Sagada. TADHANA never answers that, but it sends a hint that wherever it goes, as long as you're moving on, it will end up being OK.

This movie deserves a perfect 10/10.