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Motherhood is often a thankless hero's journey that can be best characterized by the phrase, "Only love can hurt like this." A mother's love will go above and beyond what's expected just to ensure that her progeny's needs are met and that their happiness and well-being must go first.
However, one must ask - what if the roles were reversed? What if the kids were to tell Mom that her needs must go first? How would Mom take that? Those are the questions that drive the acting showcase Family of Two, Cineko Productions, and Myriad Productions' entry to the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival, written by Mel Mendoza-del Rosario and directed by Nuel Crisostomo Naval.
Family of Two sees Cuneta as Maricar, a single mother to her son Mateo (played by Richards), who has "repaid his debt," so to speak. She has nothing to want for. But when Mateo tries to pursue his happiness, leaving Maricar alone, he hatches a plan to ensure that someone will continue caring for his mother in his stead.
Sharon Cuneta is and forever will be an icon of Philippine entertainment, mainly due to her countless classic films that depict her as the noble matriarch struggling to hold her ship together, usually amidst issues of infidelity or some other highly dramatic familial complications. Always being presented as steadfast though long-suffering, we've come to know her as a thespian by being the very embodiment of this local film trope.
Her brilliance, however, will be rendered useless if her co-star weren't up to the challenge of matching her vigor, and Richards as Mateo beautifully steps up to the plate. We've seen Alden take on more and more roles of note lately, recently wowing us with his part in the absolutely devastating love story "Five Breakups and a Romance."
"More than just a pretty face, Alden Richards continues to build 'street cred' in the industry by picking roles that allow him to both flex his acting muscles and learn from the best, and this film is another feather in his cap."
As Sheev Palpatine once said, "We will continue to watch his career with great interest."
"Family of Two" should resonate with Filipino audiences, especially those in a situation very similar to the film's core relationship. The notion of love and sacrifice is embedded in our culture's very DNA. Family is king. However, there must be times when one must question where true love ends and being overbearing begins, and this film bravely asks that in a country where even thinking of such a thing is considered insolence.
Family of Two is one of the films showcased during the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival. It won Best Supporting Actress for Miles Ocampo.
Cinegeeks rating : A-
Watch the trailer here: