Odd pairing boosts Pinoy film on Netflix
Sue Ramirez and Jelson Bay, the lead stars of Finding Agnes, do not portray lovers but are brought together by the death of a loved one
Not all of today’s most engaging films are Korean.
Among the best Filipino films streaming on Netflix is “Finding Agnes,” a contemplative drama with an odd pairing.
The lead stars, Sue Ramirez and Jelson Bay, do not portray lovers but are brought together by the death of a loved one.
In the film, Cathy Duvera (Ramirez) is the manager of a bed-and-breakfast in Morocco whose adoptive mother, Agnes Rivero (Sandy Andolong/Roxanne Guinoo), happens to be the biological mom of Brix Rivero (Bay).
Agnes is a battered wife who runs away from home in the Philippines to find a new life in Morocco, leaving a young Brix under the care of nannies. Twenty-five years later, she returns to Manila to reconnect with Brix, who has become a successful businessman.
But she suffers a stroke and dies. Her will says she’s giving the B&B to Brix, who flies to Morocco and meets Cathy.
In the next few days, Brix and Cathy stumble upon profound discoveries that fill in gaps in their relationship with Agnes.
The casting of Bay, an actor who shines in comedy, is a coup. His bald and stout appearance is a logical consequence of his roly-poly childhood in the film. His portrayal of Brix as an astute entrepreneur has wonderful touches of humor which serves as a refreshing contrast to the film’s heavy, sensitive backstory of violence against women.
Ramirez is a revelation. She plays Cathy, a beautiful, articulate, fashion-savvy single woman with flair. Best of all, her grief over the death of Agnes is palpable. Her emotional state almost reaches a breaking point when she learns her biological mother wanted her aborted.
In their scenes together, Brix and Cathy seem headed for romance, but the brilliantly written script does not allow for such a hackneyed development in the plot.
There’s one instance in which Brix tells Cathy she’s so lovely, but that’s about it. Instead, their talks probe deeper into the complications of their respective past and present lives, even as Cathy admits she went to Morocco to mend her broken heart.
The film’s denouement is unexpected (no spoilers here), but is just a reflection of director Marla Ancheta’s keen understanding of the characters’ motives and desires.
In the end, Brix and Cathy find not only Agnes’ secrets but, more importantly, themselves.