Ulan

Ulan is a welcome treat to Filipino audiences who are looking for a new flavor on their usual local flicks as it mixes magic realism with romance. It is really beguiling. Backed-up by an extraordinary story and great screenplay, driven by solid direction and storytelling by Irene Villamor, amazing performance by Nadine Lustre and mesmerizing visuals by Neil Daza, the result is a peculiar yet hauntingly beautiful, and a fullfilling movie experience like no other. Poetic cinema at it's finest.

Ulan is a story of love, but it is not simply about romance. Though it injects elements of magic realism, it faithfully mirrors the realities of life - and one such reality is that things do not always go the way we want them to. Maya deals with unpredictability by weaving her own stories and finding solace in the superstitions imparted to her by her grandmother. But as the film unfolds, so does her growth. She learns acceptance - of what she cannot change, of her true strength, of the extent of love that she is capable of giving to others and reserving for herself. So yes, Ulan is a story of love - but more than just romantic love, it highlights the power of self-love.

Nadine has come out as a really strong actress this year capable of turning a character into someone you'd be drawn into. She has this strong yet subtle way of making the audience believe her without her having to over-act her message. It was my first time to see Carlo Aquino act and wow he was so memorable! That scene of Nadine and Carlo in that magical forest from Maya's childhood was so entrancing that you'd actually start feeling your own heartbeat. It was so magical and heart-breaking that it makes you feel alive. I actually watched the film twice because it was really a beautiful masterpiece having an original concept and impressive casting.

Ulan is not a romance movie. It is about love but it is against love. It is anti-romance. But it is romantic. It was grounded in truth and yet steeped in the supernatural that wound itself so intricately with the reality of the story. The film benefits from such a rich appreciation of magical realism which gave meaning to what otherwise would be a disorienting narrative flow. Magic and folklore are embedded in Maya's childhood, which I think speaks of a need to reconcile what is seemingly a conflicting reality with the stories we are told, and which to us, speaks just as much truth as anything science could explain.

Bittersweet romance. Ulan shows, not just fantasies, but the reality of finding and losing love.

What I like most in the movie is the nostalgia it brings - the childhood that most Filipino kids have. It built Maya's character through the supertitious beliefs she was taught by her grandmother while growing up. The same beliefs she then held on as she went on with her life - her career and love life.

Maya (Nadine Lustre) is your typical protagonist, but in a good way. She is the girl who craves romance, who is fearless in seeking it, and is brave to accept and move on from the pain it brings. On the other hand, Peter's character (Carlo Aquino) left you with the hardest question to answer - choosing between the calling to serve and the woman you love.

Overall, the movie is pure passion, mystery, and art. The ending is tragic but nonetheless makes you want to fall or stay in love.