Love bridges the tropics and old Europe in ‘Spring in Prague’

An intimate cross-continental romance unfolds in Spring in Prague, a film that threads love, faith, and quiet transformation across the Philippines and the Czech Republic. Led by Paulo Gumabao and European actress Sara Sandeva, the project marks a rare cinematic collaboration that blends Filipino warmth with Central European elegance.

Directed by Lester Dimaranan and written by Eric Ramos, the film introduces an “old-fashioned” kind of romance — one that takes its time, allowing emotion to surface naturally rather than leaning on grand spectacle. “This is not your typical love story,” Dimaranan said. “We wanted to tell a story that doesn’t rely on clichés or melodrama.”

A meeting that changes two lives

At the heart of the film is Alfonso, a Filipino resort owner whose life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Maruška Růžička, a Czech traveler wandering far from home. Their chance encounter grows into a bond that pushes both characters toward healing and self-rediscovery — until circumstances pull them apart, forcing choices that test the depth of what they have found.

For Gumabao, the experience was as transformative as the story itself. “Grabe, ibang klase ‘yung experience ko sa film na ito (My experience working in this film is extraordinary),” he shared. “It was my first time shooting in Europe, and to be in Prague — sobrang  (really) surreal. Spring in Prague challenged me in ways I didn’t expect and I’m proud of that.”

Two countries, one emotional landscape

Shot across Puerto Galera, Tagaytay, Manila and Prague, the film visually contrasts tropical stillness with old-world grandeur. The camera lingers on landscapes not merely as backdrops, but as emotional mirrors — quiet beaches and misty hills giving way to cobblestone streets and historic bridges.

A notable spiritual thread runs through the narrative with the inclusion of the Santo Niño de Praga, a devotion that subtly anchors the characters’ journeys in faith and reflection.

Passion project with a deeper purpose

The film is also deeply personal for executive producer Ferdinand Topacio, who conceived the story after visiting Prague’s Santo Niño shrine. “This film is the result of mutual artistic respect and a desire to tell a universal story rooted in real human emotion,” he said.

Speaking candidly about his motivation, Topacio added: “Seriously speaking, it’s a passion, an avocation and it’s my small way of giving back to the film industry that I love. Kasi bata pa lang ako, mahilig na ako sa pelikula… Pangatlo ko na actually ito (Because since I was young, I’ve loved the movies... this is my third film, actually)… It’s my legacy — habang buhay, nandiyan ang mga pelikula ko (my films are there for as long as I live).”

Symbolic cinematic bridge

Produced by Borracho Films, Spring in Prague also stands as a symbolic tribute to 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic — using cinema as a bridge between cultures.

The film will have a special screening on Monday, 19 January, at Gateway Cinema 12, ahead of its nationwide theatrical release on 4 February.