Review: ‘I Fell, It’s Fine’

Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s I Fell, It’s Fine, produced by Wide International Film and Entertainment, is a modern-day fairytale with no traces of Prince Charming and Cinderella, Snow White and Prince Florian, or Aurora and Prince Philip. Yes, there are damsels in some state of distress who happen to navigate difficulties with effortlessness, but they share a different kind of love.

Anne and Chicks

The central characters of this Bernardo “movie-verse” are Anne (Glaiza de Castro) and Chicks (Rhian Ramos). Anne is a popular resort owner — tough on the outside but an emotional wreck on the inside, thanks but no thanks to Jun (Rafael Rosell), her husband who happens to be in love with someone else and wants an annulment.

Because of this present-day dilemma, Anne’s childhood coping mechanism when an emotional crisis hits her, an imaginary friend that she speaks to, provides her with solace and security. Chicks, Ramos’ character, who seems to have been plucked from Twilight Zone — is always in ambivalent space as she enjoys the energies and givens of the real world, with Anne by her side, of course. But the world where she originated from beckons, and Chicks’ hyperawareness of the borrowed time with Anne briskly ticks off the clock.

Both De Castro and Ramos rose to the occasion for they infused not just the physicality to their characters, but bestowed them with a lot of relatability and sincerity. In their more than able hearts and minds, the lead actresses showed the confusions and doubts, the getting to know each other phase that had the requisite kilig and love languages like adoring glances, cheesy lines and baby and tender kisses. Castro and Ramos made two women falling in love authentic as they have been paired with the right doses of saccharine.

Surprises

The sense of humor in the narrative was evident. Bernardo played around with the name “Chicks” and it was a successful stretch as it was able to bring the laughter as the images on screen and the punch lines and movements about it landed quite well.

As for its overall look, the movie is polished and sleek to the eyes — including the beauty of the resort where most of the movie unfolded; the yellow lights that flickered when Anne and Chicks shared the bathtub and how they lit the church exquisitely — cinematography at its finest, indeed.

From the supporting cast, hats off to Alchris Galura as he registered handsomely onscreen and that honesty he gave to his devastation moment is priceless. Give him more leading man roles, real quick! Rossell as Jun is still the dreamboat that he is and yes Ms. Elizabeth Oropesa — her star power and presence are truly incandescent.

Wondering

There was one big chunk of the movie that baffled me. It was the long exposition of the beginning, present time and what happens next to Anne and Chicks. Plus, the revelation of the twist felt off. The ride to reach that decision and devise, as it turns out, is just a trick.

But as for the undeniable and kilig-to-the-max chemistry between Glaiza and Rhian; the movie’s heartfelt and healing narrative; groundbreaking girls’ love representation and Bernardo’s direction virtuoso, I Fell, It’s Fine is without doubt one of the finest different kind of love that for me, we all need. The film opens 4 April in cinemas nationwide.