It should be noted that "The Mistress" follows a fairly typical build up of story for a Tagalog (Philippines) movie. This is a classic love story combined with heartache, betrayal, forgiveness. difference in social status and class, and love against all odds.
The story is about Sari (played by Bea Alonzo), a seamstress who dreams of having her own business. Sari is having an affair with an older, married man named Rico Torres (played by Ronaldo Valdez). Rico's wife, Regina (played by Hilda Koronel), knows about her husbands affair but does little about it. Then one day the persistent JD (played by John Lloyd Cruz) comes into Sari's life and turns her world upside down. However, there is more to JD's background than initially shown.
This is a standard and generic love story that can be seen in many other movies of the same genre - and in many Tagalog movies, in particular. But it does work out nicely enough, because the story is good and well directed by Olivia M. Lamasan. Plus the cast members really did good and convincing jobs with their given roles and characters.
The characters were nicely detailed and were well connected through the storyline. Each character brought their own unique touch and aspect to the story, which was great. Without believable and realistic characters, a movie like this would just be wooden and hollow.
If you can look past the clichés and the textbook storyline, then "The Mistress" is actually an entertaining movie, and the two hours seem to go by quickly without a dull moment. I was thoroughly entertained by the movie.
