Jun Robles Lana’s latest film is without a doubt a masterpiece as it speaks volume in terms of storytelling, direction, and acting ensemble.
What appears to be a plain meeting of two characters in a restaurant ends up to be something else, something more, something greater than what meets the eyes. As secrets, lies, and truths unfold, one could be easily glued to their seat. Bawal tumayo, kung hindi ay may mami-miss out ka!
This real-time psychological drama takes us to a brilliant conversation between the character played by Elijah Canlas and Romnick Sarmenta — two capable actors defined by their respective generations. They are seated on what appears to be “hot seats” peeling their skin layer by layer to reveal their own true selves — taking their audience to places other than the physical restaurant they are in. They ooze with this kind of chemistry that flow from the screen to the eyes of the spectators: us, who are holding on to what might happen next.
See for yourselves and witness the genius in ABOUT US NOT BUT ABOUT US — screening in cinemas nationwide this April 8-18 as an official entry to the first-ever Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.
#AboutUsButNotAboutUs is an official entry to the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. Opens in cinemas starting April 8. Produced by Octobertrain Films, The IdeaFirst Company, and Quantum Films.
About the movie
About Us But Not About Us, the psychological thriller by Jun Robles Lana that critics in Europe hailed as an ‘unexpected real-time masterpiece,’ will finally screen here in the Philippines via the Summer edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival this April 8. Featuring brilliant performances by Romnick Sarmenta and Elijah Canlas, this Filipino film won Critics’ Picks Best Film at the 27th PÖFF Tallinn Black Nights Film Fesival, one of the largest A-list film festivals in Europe.
The film tells the story of Eric, a literature professor at the English Department of the University of the Philippines, who meets up with his student, and rumored lover, Lancelot, months after the suicide of Marcus, a celebrated Filipino writer best known for his novels in English, and Eric’s longtime partner. As their conversation becomes more detailed and complicated, secrets and lies will be unearthed and the sinister nature of their identities will be revealed while they all wrestle with the truth.
About Us But Not About Us was also an official selection at the 43rd Fantasporto in Portugal and the 30th Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney. “Lana’s impeccable writing is interpreted beautifully by both actors, a pair of exceptional performances that stand on the edge of complete eruption,” says one review by the International Cinephile Society.
Writer and Director Jun Robles Lana admits About Us But Not About Us is a very personal film for him. “We often lie to make ourselves interesting, thereby twisting and repurposing truths to sway people to our side,” says Lana in his Director’s Statement. “Could the sum of our being be made up of nothing but false narratives and distorted memories?”
TATAK MNL 
Leave a comment