Available at FDCP Streaming Website with hardcoded English subtitles with other Filipino Classics.
This is capital S I L L Y.
FAMED for its an 'Eye-for-an-Eye' acting moments, Ikaw ay Akin ( can be translated as 'What's yours is Mine' or 'You are Mine' (for a much literal translation)) is ABOUT Polyamory, which is no surprise given that the writer is famed for his work for Salwahan - another film about Polyamory.
Practically a horticulturist(played by Aunor) is in a 8 year relationship with a Jeepney Factory Manager. When a bubbly young artist(played by Santos) falls head over heal over him, it elicits an affair but got it under control before things heads past it wheels. The two women has no knowledge of each other BUT discovers that De Leon's character is changed, regardless of them crossing each other's path.
They could not take it AND causes them to really have a weird personal reckoning about how they need him. Then it ends up in what I think is the most ridiculous and practically the greatest inversion in cheating drama's ever, he makes a speech for both about how he could not careless of the things he had done AND you had to take it or leave it AND ends with literally just having the ladies looking eye to eye in acceptance.
THIS WOULD not really not translate abroad. Its beyond stereotypical - it literally made the Cheating Melodrama Genre of our country. Also, I think Nora and Vilma represents two GAY MEN here. They are probably the two of the most dicmatized female protagonist in FILM. THEY CANNOT function without De Leon punching their HOLES. It so ridiculous it actually feels so funny at times. Their reasoning and action is beyond martyr-ism and just borderline campy dumbassery (there is an jealous rage attempted Manslaughter in this film lol) BUT its Bernal's choices that really make it work.
This film only works because it never moralize. It show characters that are ungodly stuck in this toxic cycle AND makes them a willing participant. THAT SPEECH by Rex raises it off as a schlocky stupid trash into a Nasty Melodramatic Erotica. I was very stunned when I initially watched it. That subvert was so off field but given how the girls reacted all throughout the film, it was not unexpected and it worked specifically like a comedy of manners.
Though, I would also add that moment is the weakness of the film. It just need that scene to really lift this material up. I think otherwise - this will be just a bad melodramatic slop.
Highly recommended. This is a high work of melodramatic camp. I respect that Bernal let the story tell its story AND that is amazing.
