There is a lot of charm, feels and honest-to- goodness storytelling and a fine romance present in Spring in Prague (showing in cinemas starting 4 February), directed by Lester Dimaranan, written by Eric Ramos and produced by Attorney Ferdinand Topacio of Borracho Film Production. This film is truly a stellar cinematic gift to the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic.

Seasons of love

The story of Spring in Prague centers on the cross-cultural romance between a Filipino resort owner Alfie (Paolo Gumabao) and a Czech maiden Marusca (Sara Sandeva) that happens during summer — the time when the romance between the two started, bloomed and happened. 

In winter,  Alfie and Marusca’s  feelings and commitment to their relationship was put to a test, and in spring, the season of resolutions and resolve happens. It is a time that celebrates why hope is eternal and that indeed, true love conquers all.

Ramos’ script, which was essentially a “you and me against the world” trope interspersed with a “lost in translation” kind of adaptation from paper to screen by Dimaranan, can be best described as gentle, intelligent and sensitively converted for the silverscreen, making it definitely the film’s major strength. 

High appreciation is given to the absence of overtly cute meeting moments and mushy scenes to generate feels, yet these still work. “Nada” on excessive music scores during important scenes and high praises are given that the scenes never reached melodramatic levels, thus, the actors delivered the ache and hurt with core potency, and when the sweet and good stuff happen, nothing came as artificial and cringy. And most importantly, there are no irritating product placements that were necessary ingredients in other Filipino romantic dramas. 

Commendable as well was the manner they were able to weave the “serious stuff” like history, politics and religiosity, seamlessly and that they did became a source of alienation.