Movie Review: The Loved One

 

"The Loved One" is a mature and introspective romantic drama that stands apart from typical Valentine-season films. Directed by Irene Villamor, the story follows two past lovers, Ellie (Anne Curtis) and Eric (Jericho Rosales), who unexpectedly cross paths after years apart and revisit memories that shaped, and scarred, their relationship. The film embraces a non-linear narrative, blending past and present through visual cues like vibrant color for memories and stark black-and-white for the present emotional landscape.

Watching "The Loved One" felt like revisiting a room in your mind that you haven't opened in years. It’s not about fireworks or grand declarations; it's about the quiet pulls of what once was. The film reminded me how love isn't always a clean narrative with beginnings and endings; often, it's a series of lingering questions and silent reflections.

The film's pacing is patient, matching its theme of time, especially how time alters perspective. It made me think about the nature of love: is it something you cling to, or something you grow beyond? Ellie and Eric's story didn't feel like a fairy tale. It felt real. They weren't perfect. They didn't have perfect timing. They were just people shaped by expectations, choices, and time.

There was a scene where they just sit together in silence. No music, no dramatic reveal. And I realized that silence in relationships can be as revealing as any argument or confession. The movie didn’t give easy answers, and maybe that’s why it stayed with me afterward. Love doesn’t always wrap up neatly.

What makes "The Loved One" compelling is its emotional honesty. Instead of glossy romance, it explores the uneven geography of love: how it lingers, reshapes identity, and refuses tidy resolutions. Performances by Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales are grounded and compelling, reflecting the quiet intensity of a love that persists long after it's over. The choice of the "stripped down" version of "Multo" by Cup of Joe enhances that sense of haunting memory.

The movie was raw: not melodramatic, but sincere. Watching it wasn't just entertainment; it felt like a quiet conversation between the film and my own heart. Movies like this remind me that love doesn't always need closure to teach you something.

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