Ulan

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.

The movie was not what I expected it to be. I thought it would be a typical Filipino love story but to my surprise it turned out quite refreshing and entertaining.

It was somewhat disorienting at first for someone who is not a fan of such genre. Throughout the movie I often found myself confused as to the meaning behind the parts of the movie that incorporated fantasy. I was not really sure if the meaning behind those scenes should be taken literally or if one should see it as a kind of symbolism. Or perhaps both.

But that idea of not really being sure as to the meaning of the whole film actually was the refreshing part of the movie. For me, the movie gave the viewers a choice: take it as it is (that is from the view of a child's memories and perspective), or give a deeper meaning to it (that is from the view of an adult's experiences and struggles).

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.

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 and stay in love.

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.