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If and Only If

Sana Dati: Movie Review

Gevonne Pascual

Sana Dati, a 2013 Philippine romantic drama film written, directed, edited, and scored by Jerrold Tarog. It is about a woman who stalls her big wedding when a guy with a camera shows up and reminds her of a love she once had. It is the final installment to Tarog's Camera trilogy which include Confessional (2007) and The Blood Trail (2009). The film competed under the Directors Showcase sidebar of Cinemalaya 2013, and won Best Film and other technical awards at the festival's awards night.

Having the same thought, “ Sana Dati’s story revolves around soon-to-be-hitched Andrea Gonzaga (Lovi Poe), who gets cold feet on her wedding day upon meeting her wedding photographer, Dennis Cesario (Paulo Avelino), who reminds her too much of a man she once loved before she ended up with her present fiancé, Robert Naval (TJ Trinidad). In the hours that lead up to the wedding ceremony itself, snippets of happy wedding preparations (cake decorating, an emcee accommodating guests) are juxtaposed with scenes of tension and anxiety (the younger sister bringing the wrong shoebox for Andrea, the bride seeming all too pensive). After realizing that the photographer knew too much about her to be a 100% stranger, Andrea asks Dennis what his last name is and finds out that he is the brother of Andrew Cesario (Benjamin Alves), whom Dennis inherited the camera and one-man wedding photography business from after his death.

Distraught and reminded of her grief, Andrea—with Dennis in tow—hides out on the roof deck of the hotel. In effect, she stalls her own wedding and causes everyone to frantically look for her while she spends time with Dennis to talk to him about his brother. Throughout their interaction, there are scenes of flashbacks from when Andrew had been alive, and Andrea also expresses doubts about marrying Robert. Andrea also appears to express interest in Dennis: she attempts to recreate a moment wherein she touches Andrew’s cheek before kissing him tenderly. She ends up just cupping Dennis’ face before whispering Andrew’s name and walking a few steps away. They speak a bit more until they hear someone approaching the deck. Dennis keeps out of sight as Robert finds Andrea and the pair heads downstairs to proceed with the extremely delayed wedding. Andrea’s little sister brings her the blue shoebox she was told to retrieve, and Andrea puts on blue flats, much to Robert’s surprise and slight annoyance. Dennis proceeds downstairs after a while to shoot the event, and when he arrives in the function room, Andrea’s friend gives him a note from the bride, which he keeps to read later. The ceremony begins, vows are exchanged, and the pair are pronounced husband and wife. After the festivities, Dennis opens the letter, which reads: “After the reception, let’s get out of here.” Dennis leaves without meeting up with Andrea, and Andrea ends up crying in the pantry by herself.

Between the wedding day and the last part of the movie, a few more flashbacks of Andrew and Andrea are shown, including a flashback of Andrea reading a love letter from Andrew. After the flashbacks, the very last scene of the movie is of Andrea leaving a shoebox on Andrew’s grave containing memorabilia, such as the love letter and various pictures of them together. On top of the box, she also places the engagement ring Andrew had given her before he died. As she leaves his grave, she sees Robert waiting for her along the cemetery driveway and realizes that he had found out about her past relationship and asked him how he knew, to which he replies that he’ll tell her along the drive. As they enter the car and it drives away, it is seen that Andrea had left her blue flats on the curb—blue flats that had been given to her by Andrew. In the car, Andrea takes one of Robert’s hands and tells him she loves him, to which he replies, “Totoo ba yan?” (Is that true?). The movie ends with Andrea squeezing his hand and looking outside the car window.”, according to dentandentan.

What I liked about the film is its close to the real life situations, wherein mostly, love stories does not typically reaches a happy ending. In which, most of the people can see the romantic side of love more than of the opposite- love can cause unexpected tragedy. I really liked how the writer and director made the story of the film, not having too much locations, maximizing the use of a location.. What I disliked about the film is that, because of too much flashbacks, I wasn’t been able to easily distinguished the time of the scenes, I was used to watch vintages color whenever it is a flashback. And the ‘bitin’ part where Robert didn’t tell how he knew the past of Andrea and Andrew.

The cinematography is brilliant. All the angles of the camera, the ways the scenes were shot, all of it were not just artistic but meaningful as well. There wasn’t a single form of any scene which purpose is just to show off. The music is wonderful. It’s cued at the right moment and the melody dives so deeply, smoothly, parallel to the emotional turmoil of the characters.

The storytelling is unique. I’ve never seen such an unpredictable, beautiful movie delivered initially as a tangle of mystery. The story was a bit dragging at first. It was a nice, slow, storytelling of the wedding preparations during the first part of the film. Then a mysterious character arrived, slowly revealing more mysteries about the bride, Andrea. I was getting antsy in fact, waiting for the story to move forward and give light to all those mysteries. But when the revelation came, it had hit me so hard. It’s not like a huge, immediate, surprise revelation. It’s slow, and painful, and beautiful. The film is rich in the content, in form, in design. Astounding. Jerrold Tarog is a genius in this one.

One of the best actresses in the country of the Philippines, either way, in the world, Ms. Lovi Poe, the loving child of the great King, FPJ, who almost became the President of the country, but regardless the fact, she is genius on her own. She does not only knows how to be pretty and sexy, in the same time, she can definitely act. Just like a chameleon, which can blend in any situations, Lovi Poe can portray any characters. She suits the role of being bitchy, sweet and innocent, scary and all other adjectives. In the movie “Sana Dati”, she played the character of Andrea Gonzales, a woman who has decided to marry her suitor whom has an assurance that he really loves her, despite of being still trapped in her past. Her mutual attraction with Andrew started the moment they met. Although she met Robert in the first place. Everything was going smooth with Andrew, except the fact that he has a arrhythmia and their relationship was hidden.

One of the most in-demand leading men, but turned antagonist because of the reason having a stern mestizo looks in the middle of the movie. TJ Trinidad plays the character of Robert Naval. A politician turned businessman who truly loves Andrea, the main protagonist of the film, in which his character is willing to give everything to her. The agony, concerrn and the genuineness of his fidelity towards Andrea was showed and myself really felt those emotions.

One of the sexy hunks in the country. Benjamin Alves who pays the role of Andrew Cesario. A very handsome young fine man who holds a lot of promises. However, because of having a severe health problem, he is sheltered and overly protected by his mom. Despite of acknowledging the fact of his life might be shortened if he continued to love Andrea, he still chose happiness of love over his health.

Dennis Cesario, sibling of Andrew whose being played by the actor who is more than just a heartthrob. He has proven himself many times in which he can be lethal or lovable or sweet or someone you would like to despise. He becomes his role, the mysterious videographer who makes Andrea think a lot of times with her decision to marry Robert, most of the viewers have thought: Will Dennis run away with Andrea?

There was some boring scenes. When the characters weren't talking, nature(and lighting) did the talking. According to a blogger, in which myself agreed on, everyone played their part well. I'm sure the people behind the scenes all did their part. Maybe I wouldn't be able to mention everybody, but I will try to.

Ria Garcia was so believable as the little sister who was so tense that she even lost her expensive cellphone inside the cab. Cai Cortez plays a beautiful woman who is so loved by her groom. Nico Antonio is the very lively host who eventually "entertained" everyone who was getting fidgety because of the missing bride. Gee Canlas plays the very witty, but naughty best friend and co-host to the role of Nico Antonio. Bong Cabrera plays the groom of Cai C's role. He is very funny and believable. Such a natural!

Carla Martinez plays the pushy and social climbing mother of Andrea. If I did not know that she is a woman with finesse and class, I would want to pull her hair or give her my two cents worth. Anyways, her character is not all that bad. She just wants the best for her children.

Liesl Batucan plays Tita Baby who is very loving and majorly concerned about her nieces, especially Andrea. Batucan is a professional theater actress who can play a socialite, a bitch, a pauper, a maid, a flight attendant or whatever else. Every role simply fits like it was tailor made for her. Nonie Buencamino is good in anything he does, and he was great as the Judge/Officiator. Chinggoy Alonzo What could I do? I could describe him versatile, because he is. I could describe him as talented, just because. I could say he plays his role well, because he does. Here, he plays the role of Robert's dad who obviously loves his son and because he loves him too much, he also wants to check if he, Robert, knows what he is doing.

The message of the movie that is really applicable to the lives of each individual, love is the most powerful thing to be experienced. You have to be prepared to all the consequences. And the consequences, problems should be faced, not in the other way around. At the same time, there will be no hidden secrets that won’t be exploited. In God, lets put up our faith and trust on Him, everything happens for a reason.

In general, the film was great and very interesting as it gave the viewers a thing to be thought of when it comes to love. I would like to recommend individuals who are in pain, from teens up until the adults who are lost in the path of the pain of love. I would rate the movie eight over ten.

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