SID AND AYA: NOT A LOVE STORY
Philippines, 2018, 94 minutes, Colour.
Anne Curtis, Dingdong Dantes, Gabby Eigenmann.
Directed by Irene Emma Villamor.
This is a different Filipino film in so far as it is set in the middle of an affluent city, high-rise buildings, stock exchange, hotels… There is no indication of the Filipino countryside or poverty or political or social difficulties.
Dingdong Dantes is Sid, a successful broker, with a girlfriend, living a social life, but seemingly having an early midlife crisis. With his girlfriend travelling internationally, he suffers from insomnia, spending his time in the early hours reading in a hotel lobby. The staff there are curious as to who is and one of them, Aya (Victorian born and educated but a Filipino star), Anne Curtis, finds out who is, joins him in conversation and, over the time, is paid for keeping him company, their talking – not sexual encounter because, as the title said, this is not a love story.
The audience knows that, ultimately, it will be a love story, but Sid has his difficulties, Aya plans to go to Japan to work, reuniting with her mother. While this happens, and Sid has to face his own realities, there is something of a hopeful ending.
1. The title? Repeated throughout the film? But, in fact, a love story?
2. The urban settings, the affluent Philippines, banking and investment, stock exchange, high-rise buildings, hotels? The visit to Japan? The musical score?
3. Sid, middle-aged, his commitment to his work, skilful, investments, the discussion with his uncle, memories of his father and losing, his uncle’s investment, not succeeding? His girlfriend? Their life, social, her international travels? His being alone, insomnia?
4. Sid, in the lobby, reading in the night, the workers and their comments, betting about his identity? Aya, working, the bets with the staff, a device for learning about Sid, spending the time with him, conversation, his wanting company, paying? The effect on Aya?
5. Aya and her many jobs, the dry-cleaning, in costume for the pageant, at the hotel? Sid encountering her?
6. The conversations, Aya and her taking initiatives, Sid and his response, the effect on his work, the social and his punching his collaborator?
7. Aya, her father and his illness, her mother in Japan, her intention to go to Japan? SID and the jewellers, her trying on the ring, stealing from Sid to get to Japan?
8. SID, his girlfriend’s return, dissatisfaction?
9. Aya in Japan, at the club, her mother, her mother and her lover? Sid and his arrival, tracking her down, the meeting, her confession about the money?
10. SID, in love with, proposing the rendezvous, his waiting, her not turning up?
11. Back home, Aya the table, Sid passing by, going in, meeting, and a future?
