Rhian Ramos and Allen Dizon in ‘Unconditional’: Win some, lose some

Rhian Ramos (left) and Allen Dizon in "Unconditional"  --Photos courtesy  of BR Film Productions

By Rito Asilo

 

The search for true love gets even more complicated in Adolf Alix Jr.’s thematically provocative romantic drama “Unconditional,” which opened in Philippine theaters yesterday. 

 

In the film, social media manager Anna Pascual (Rhian Ramos) crosses paths with Greg Castillo (Allen Dizon) in rustic, picture-perfect Siargao. While she’s technically on the rebound after getting her heart broken by her two-timing boyfriend, Mark San Diego (Paolo Gumabao), a pesky new romance isn’t really on top of Anna’s priorities. 

 

But the kind and secretive Greg, who’s still coming to terms with his chosen sexual identity as a trans man, begins to challenge Anna’s fragile notions of love, loss and healing. The stakes are raised even higher when the former finally lays his lonely heart on the line in exchange for his rare shot at happiness, demonstrating the sort of love that can change perceptions as much as it breaks boundaries. 

Evolving filmography

 

Regardless of pace or subject matter, we’ve always been entertained by Alix’s storytelling style and evolving filmography, refreshingly unconventional in some (“Donsol,” “Isda,” “Porno,” “Kalayaan”) while curiously static in others (“Maynila”). But at least the prolific director has always been willing to bend stereotypical norms of exposition for narrative expediency, like “Pieta” or “Faney”—which isn’t to say that they’re of the same genre or caliber. But that’s another story.

 

With that being said, we acknowledge the boldness of the themes that “Unconventional” dares to probe deeper into as it raises the question: What are you willing to do for love? It’s the kind of conundrum that seems pretty standard in complicated love stories on the big screen, but for nonbinary viewers, the answer could be transformative. It could even end up becoming a matter of life or death for others.

 

Rhian and Allen have always been reliable actors, diligently digging under the skin of their characters as every actor worth his or her salt should. But while we commiserate with Anna and Greg on their respective issues, not enough sparks are generated between them to keep us invested in their budding relationship.

 

Or perhaps we’re just having trouble suspending our disbelief that Allen—this quintessential specimen of masculine virility, Adam’s apple and all—used to be Regina, played by Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina.

Dizon as Greg Castillo and Ramos as Anna Pascual

Ebullient spirit

 

Be that as it may, while the aforementioned elements somewhat dilute the story’s cri de coeur, it fails to dampen “Unconditional’s” ebullient LGBTQ spirit. Along with subtle intimations of its protagonists’ human frailties and principled convictions, there’s much to appreciate about this movie, not the least of which is the picturesque backdrop provided by Rain Yamson’s moody and evocative cinematography.

 

Another notable element is Joel Lamangan’s vital (though needlessly protracted) cameo as Rhian’s gay Tita Jonel who, despite unmitigated heartbreak, manages to weigh in on Anna’s romantic struggles with clear-eyed precision and lived-in wisdom. When he says, “To love is to will the good of the other,” he imbues each word with acceptance and surrender in equal measure.

 

We’ve always liked Lamangan more as an actor than director, and this rare foray into big-screen acting is no exception. As Tita Jonel, Lamangan is such a hoot and is a joy to watch as he shuttles between drama and winking comedy as if they weren’t complex “persuasions” and emotions for any actor to pull off convincingly. While he mourns his lost love, he provides much-needed levity as he delivers every line with a tricky balance of pathos and comedic verve.      

#unconditional #rhianramos #allendizon #adolfalix

director Adolf Alix Jr. (right) with Joel Lamangan --Photo courtesy of Adolfo Alix Jr./Facebook