Family of Two
Marami na tayong napanood na mother and son stories pero dito, hindi pakialamera sa buhay ng anak ang ina, at hindi rin naman spineless mama’s boy ang anak.
Technical assessment: 3.5 ★★★✬✩
Moral assessment: 4 ★★★★✩
MTRCB rating: G
CINEMA rating: VA Viewers of All Ages)
Ang Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story) ay tungkol sa isang mapagmahal na anak na si Mateo (Alden Richards) at ang kanyang nabalong inang si Maricar (Sharon Cuneta). Namatay ang ama ni Mateo noong siya’y limang taong gulang pa lang, at si Maricar ang nagpalaki at nagtaguyod sa kanya nang mag-isa. Nagtatrabaho na si Mateo at umiibig sa kanyang ka-opisinang si Zari (Miles Ocampo) na madedestino sa Singapore. Gusto man niyang sumunod kay Zari ay nag-aalala siyang iwanang mag-isa ang kanyang ina. Nagsikap siyang humanap ng mabuting lalaking mag-aalaga kay Maricar subalit sumama ang loob nito. Susundin ba niya ang tibok ng kanyang puso at ang kanyang mga pangarap? Maaatim ba niyang iwanang nag-iisa ang kanyang inang buong pagmamahal na nagpalaki at patuloy na nangangalaga sa kanya?
Parang reunion dito nina Direk Nuel Crisostomo Naval at screenplaywright na si Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario na nagbigay sa MMFF 2022 ng Family Matters na umani ng maraming awards sa FAMAS. Simple lang ang kwento pero mahusay nilang nabuo ang pelikula sa bawat eksena. Kuhang-kuha nila ang saloobin ng Pinoy audience at nabalanse nila ang mga maramdaming tagpo sa nakatutuwa. Walang masyadong conflict kasi wala namang kontrabida, pero naipakita ang karaniwan at maliliit na bagay na bumabagabag sa mga relasyon: sa pamilya, sa opisina, sa kasintahan, at maging sa sarili, etc. Natural ang pag-arte ni Alden at Sharon bilang mag-ina, ang batuhan nila ng salita at kulitan, at kapani-paniwalang dalawa lang talaga sila sa pamilya. May ilang eksena lang na medyo naging OA din si Ate Shawie. Magaling ang mga supporting actors tulad ni Miles Ocampo na restrained ang pag-atake sa kanyang role. Nakatulong rin ang maramdaming musika at mga “hugot lines” upang makapasok ang manonood sa mundo ni Maricar at Matty.
Marami na tayong napanood na mother and son story pero dito sa Family of Two hindi pakialamera sa buhay ng anak si Maricar, at hindi rin naman spineless mama’s boy si Matty. Ipinakita ang totoong pagmamalasakit at pagmamahal na handang magpatawad, mag-sakripisyo at magparaya upang malayang lumago ang minamahal. Hindi rin ipinagpilitang hanapin ang kasiyahan at fulfillment na manggagaling sa ibang tao, kungdi, ika nga, “in becoming the person you were meant to be.” Marahil ito ang mas malalim na value ng pelikulang ito. Totoo na tayo’y inatasang magmahal sa kapwa, lalo na sa kapamilya at mga malapit sa atin. Pero kadalasan, ang sakripisyo at pagmamahal ng mga nakatatanda ay binabalewala ng mga nakababata. Magandang paalaala ang pelikulang ito na tumanaw tayo ng utang-na-loob sa mga taong naging gabay at pundasyon natin para maabot ang kinaroroonan natin ngayon. Malaking hamon din ito sa mga nagparaya para asikasuhin ang pamilya at mga minamahal upang mangarap nang muli, to dream again and pursue what they have put aside. Dito, aalalahanin natin ang winika ni Hans Urs von Balthasar: “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” — RDA
TITLE: Family of Two (A Mother and Son’s Story) DIRECTOR: Nuel Crisostomo Naval LEAD CAST: Sharon Cuneta, Alden Richards, Miles Ocampo SCREENWRITER: Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario CINEMATOGRAPHER: Anne Monzon MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Jose Buencamino PRODUCER: CineKo Productions EDITOR: Beng Bandong GENRE: Drama DISTRIBUTOR: Axinite Digicinema Inc. LOCATION: Philippines RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes
English language version:
Family of Two is about a loving son, Mateo (Alden Richards), and his devoted mother, Maricar (Sharon Cuneta). Mateo’s father passed away when he was just five years old, and Maricar raised and supported him on her own. Mateo is now employed and in love with his office mate, Zari (Miles Ocampo), who will be assigned to work in Singapore. Despite wanting to follow Zari, he is concerned about leaving his mother alone. Mateo strives to find a good man to take care of Maricar, but her feelings are hurt. Will Mateo follow his heart and his dreams? Can he bear to leave his mother, who raised him with love and continues to care for him?
This project reunites Director Nuel Crisostomo Naval and screenwriter Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario, who contributed to the MMFF 2022 with Family Matters, which received numerous FAMAS awards. The story is simple, yet they skillfully crafted the film in every scene. They captured the sentiments of the Filipino audience and balanced the emotional moments with delightful humor. There isn’t much conflict since there’s no antagonist, but the film portrays common and small things that disturb relationships: within the family, at work, with the beloved, and even within oneself. Alden and Sharon’s performances as mother and son come naturally, with their banter and exchange of words, convincingly portraying a family of just the two of them. Cuneta was, however, a bit overly dramatic in some scenes. The supporting actors, like Miles Ocampo, delivered restrained performances. The emotional music and witty heartfelt lines helped viewers immerse themselves in Maricar and Matty’s world.
We’ve seen many mother and son stories, but in Family of Two, Maricar isn’t a meddling mother, and Matty isn’t a spineless mama’s boy. The film shows genuine care and love, readiness to forgive, to sacrifice, and to let go to allow a loved one to grow freely. It doesn’t insist on seeking happiness and fulfillment from others but rather, as the saying goes, “in becoming the person you were meant to be.” Perhaps, this is the deeper value of the film. It’s true that we’re commanded to love others, especially family and those close to us. However, the sacrifices and love of the older generation are often overlooked by the younger ones. This film serves as a good reminder to express gratitude to those who guided and laid the foundation for us to be where we are now. It’s also a significant challenge for those who have sacrificed for the sake of their families and loved ones to dream again and pursue what they have set aside. Here let us be reminded of the words of Hans Urs von Balthasar, “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”
