Rewind
Madaling intindihin at sundan ang daloy ng kwento — makatotohanan ang usapan at ang mga eksena ay masasabing napagdaraanan ng karamihan.
Technical assessment: 3.5 ★★★✬✩
Moral assessment: 4 ★★★★✩
MTRCB rating: PG
CINEMA rating: V14 (Viewers 14 years old and above)
Si Mary (Marian Rivera) ay ulirang asawa ni John (Dingdong Dantes) at maalagang ina kay Austin (Jordan Lim). Upang maging isang simpleng maybahay, tinalikuran niya ang umuusbong sana niyang propesyon bilang “chef”. Tila naman hindi napapahalagahan ni John ang sakripisyo ng kanyang kabiyak. Mainitin ang ulo ni John, makasarili siya at gusto’y laging siya ang nasusunod kaya’t hindi masabi ni Mary ang isang desisyon na magpapabago sana ng kanyang buhay. Habang nasa daan papunta sa isang programa kung saan tampok si Austin, nagkaroon ng matinding pagtatalo ang mag-asawa, bagay na nauwi sa aksidente at naging dahilan ng biglang pagkamatay ni Mary. Habang lugmok na lugmok sa dalamhati at pagsisisi si John, lumitaw si Lodz (Pepe Herrera) sa katauhan ni Mang Jess. (“Lodz” ang ipinangalan ni Austin sa larawan ni Kristo na kanyang kinakausap.) Sinabi ni Lodz na bibigyan niya ng isa pang araw si John para ayusin ang kanyang mga maling ginawa bago ang aksidente. Subalit, kailangan may pumalit sa kamatayan ni Mary. Nakipagkasundo si John na siya ang papalit. Nang ibalik na si John sa takdang araw ay itinuwid niyang lahat ng pagkakamali upang hindi na maging mainitin ang ulo at makasarili — hanggang sa malaman niya ang desisyong itinatago ni Mary.
Madaling intindihin at sundan ang daloy ng kwento. Ang usapan ay makatotohanan at ang mga eksena ay masasabing napagdaraanan ng karamihan. Kaya naman madaling maantig ang damdamin ng mga nanunuod dahil nakakapasok ang kwento sa tunay na buhay. At dahil magkabiyak ng puso sa tunay na buhay sina Dantes at Rivera, natural ang kanilang chemistry sa ginampanang papel. Mahusay din ang timing ni Herrera, kapwa sa magagaan at seryoso niyang mga eksena. Hilaw na hilaw naman ang pagganap ni Lim; mas mainam kung binawasan na lamang ang kanyang mga diyalogo para hindi mahalata na ilang siya sa pagsasalita. Sa malumanay na direksyon ni Cruz, ang awayang mag-asawa at ang sensitibong katauhan ni Lodz ay tumatagos sa puso. May mga eksena pwedeng igsian dahil naparating na naman ang mensahe, pero sadya yatang pormula na sa pelikulang Pinoy ang gatasan ang bawat eksena hanggang matuyo na ito at mabunsol na ang manunuod. Sa kabuuan, dapat mapanuod ang Rewind ng mga taong tumatamlay ang pananampalataya sa relasyon, sa kapwa, at sa Diyos.
Malamang na simangutan ng mga konserbatibong Katoliko kung paano ipinakita ng pelikula si Hesus sa katauhan ni Lodz. Mas popular kasi ang tradisyonal na anyo ni Hesus — iyong mestisuhin, nangungusap ang mga mata, matalinghaga ang pananalita, at tila lumulutang sa alapaap, samantalang si Lodz ay hindi guwapo, simpleng tao lang, laking kanto, at palabiro. Pero pareho lang ang kanilang binitiwang mensahe: na hindi lahat ng dasal ay pinagbibigyan, na kailangang may matutunan ang tao kaya may mga bagay na ipinagkakait, na pagtitiyagaan ng Diyos na makabangon ang isang taong nakalugmok sa pagkakamali.
Malakas ang binitwang mensahe ng pelikula sa dalawang aspeto. Una, para sa mag-asawa. Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi isang fairytale na pagkakasal ay tuloy tuloy na ang ligaya, bagkus, ito ang simula ng pagsubok dahil lalabas ang mga nakatagong ugali sa araw araw na pagsasamahan. At hindi ito laging maganda. Ang hamon ay kung kaya mong maunawaan, mahalin at punuan ang mga pagkukulang ng iyong kabiyak ng puso. Sinasabi rin na sa relasyon, hindi tama na may maapakan para may makalipad. Hindi kailangang manatili sa anino ang isa para ang isa lang ang masilayan ng araw. Dapat sabay at nagtutulungan. Dapat sandigan at lakas ang bawat isa.
Ikalawa, para sa mga mananampalataya: na hindi rin ito parang fairytale na hindi maabot at malayo sa tunay na buhay. Si Hesus ay naging tao at dapat makilala natin Siya bilang kaibigan, sandigan, gabay na laging kapiling natin. Sinasabi rito na si Hesus ay kasama natin at kaya nating abutin sa pangkaraniwang daloy ng buhay. Tarok ng mga tunay na nananalig ang katotohanan sa sinabi ni Lodz: “Mabuti at alak ang inalay mo at hindi bulaklak at kandila”.
Ang rating ng pelikula ay G — para sa lahat ng manunuod, pero dahil sa kakaibang paglalarawan kay Hesus at sa isyu ng mag-asawa, minabuti ng CINEMA na taong-gulang 14 pataas lamang ang dapat manood nito para maiwasan ang kalituhan na malamang ay ibunga nito sa mga murang isipan. — PMF
DIRECTOR: Mae Czarina Cruz; LEAD CAST: Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Jordan Lim, Pepe Herrera, Joross Gamboa; PRODUCED BY: ABS-CBN Productions; SCREENPLAY: Joel Mercado, Enrico Santos; ART: Carmi Raymundo; EDITING: Marya Ignacio; GENRE: Family Drama; COUNTRY: Philippines; LANGUAGE: Filipino; DISTRIBUTED BY: Star Cinema; RUNNING TIME: 112 minutes
English language version:
Mary (Marian Rivera) is an exemplary wife to John (Dingdong Dantes) and a caring mother to Austin (Jordan Lim). In order to be a simple homemaker, she turned her back on her budding profession as a chef. However, it seems that John doesn’t appreciate the sacrifices of his wife. John has a hot temper, is selfish, and always wants to be in control, making it difficult for Mary to express a decision that could change her life. While on the way to a program featuring Austin, the couple had a heated argument, leading to an accident that resulted in Mary’s sudden death. In the depths of grief and regret, John encounters Lodz (Pepe Herrera) in the form of Mang Jess. (Austin named the Christ image he talks to “Lodz.”) Lodz informs John that he will be given another day to rectify his wrongs before the accident. However, someone needs to take Mary’s place in death. John agrees to sacrifice himself. When John is returned to the designated day, he corrects all his mistakes to avoid having a hot temper and being selfish — until he learns Mary’s hidden decision.
The flow of the story is easy to understand and follow. The dialogue is realistic, and the scenes can be relatable to many. The audience’s emotions are easily touched because the story resonates with real-life situations. Due to the genuine connection between Dantes and Rivera in real life, their chemistry in their roles comes naturally. Herrera’s timing is also excellent, both in his light and serious scenes. Lim’s performance, on the other hand, is quite raw; it would be better if his dialogues were reduced to avoid revealing his struggle with speaking. Under Cruz’s gentle direction, the couple’s conflicts and Lodz’s sensitive character penetrate the heart. There may be scenes that could have been shortened as the message is already conveyed, but it seems to be a formula in Filipino films to milk each scene until it dries up and the viewer is satisfied. Overall, Rewind should be watched by those who are struggling with faith in relationships, in others, and in God.
Conservative Catholics might frown upon how the film portrayed Jesus in the form of Lodz. The traditional image of Jesus — handsome, expressive eyes, eloquent speech, and seemingly floating in the clouds — is more popular, while Lodz is not handsome, is just an ordinary person, streetwise, and humorous. But both delivered the same message: not all prayers are answered, people need to learn so some things are withheld, and God patiently waits for a person who has fallen into mistakes to rise again.
The film strongly conveys its message in two aspects. First, for married couples. Marriage is not a fairytale where happiness continues after the wedding; instead, it is the beginning of trials because hidden traits surface in daily companionship. And it’s not always beautiful. The challenge is whether you can understand, love, and fill the shortcomings of your spouse. It also says that in a relationship, it’s not right for one to step on the other so that one can soar. One need not remain in the shadows while the other alone enjoys sunlight. Both should remain in the light together. They should lean on and strengthen each other.
Secondly, for believers: that this is not like a fairytale that is unreachable and far from real life. Jesus became human, and we should know Him as a friend, support, and guide who is always with us. It states that Jesus is with us, and we can reach Him in the ordinary flow of life. True believers discern the truth in Lodz’s statement: “It’s good that you offered wine and not flowers and candles.”
The MTRCB rating of the film is G — for all viewers, but due to the unique portrayal of Jesus and the issue of married couples, CINEMA decided that only those aged 14 and above should watch it to avoid potential confusion that may arise in young minds.
