When the teasers and trailer popped up a few months ago, it stirred the internet and television viewers’ expectations: is it a supernatural horror film? Is it a love story? Not knowing what it is about also had us formulating theories and creating stories in our heads. Nevertheless, this film delivered in more ways than one. Fantasy meets reality in Irene Villamor’s whimsical and stylish “Ulan”.
The film starts with a young Maya (Ella Ilano) asking her grandmother (Perla Bautista) and lamenting about the rain: “Bakit po umuulan kahit maaraw?” (Why does it rain even when the sun is out?) and then cuts to the present where Maya (Nadine Lustre) is preparing for what seemed like a date. She goes out the house and sees that it’s about to pour. This sets the story for its viewers that our main character’s young life is deeply connected to rain.
We witness Maya’s day-to-day, her goals and her love life, or lack thereof. We see her unsatisfied in her workplace, conversations with her best friend about heartbreak (AJ Muhlach, Marco Gumabao and Carlo Aquino are her love interests in the movie), her believing that the rain is somehow a curse., All these things yet we root for her because at some point in our lives, we have experienced them. We then see her rise above her situation and fall in love. Not only it offers themes on romance, but it became more about Maya’s coming of age. It’s beautiful and tragic.
Villamor’s imaginative approach on storytelling is getting more and more interesting as she grows as a filmmaker. The use of folklore is a strong touch. I liked that it was nostalgic. You will see “tikbalangs” getting married and egg people. That’s right: little egg people. The cinematography is superb and impeccable, thanks to none other than Neil Daza, whose filmography includes Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure and Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon. It resulted to a wonderful collaboration and I am hoping to see more of that in the future. There were countless and gorgeous imagery throughout the film and dare we say it: Ulan’s final sequence accompanied by Janine Tenoso’s revival of Rivermaya’s “Ulan” is one of the most unforgettable and stunning scenes we’ve seen, ever. Nadine Lustre’s commendable performance is impressive. She has never been better and this was a perfect vehicle for her acting chops. We are looking forward to see her pair-up with Sam Concepcion in “Indak“.
With last year’s hits, Meet Me In St. Gallen and Sid & Aya: Not A Love Story, Irene Villamor is one of the directors that we’re always excited about whenever she sits on her chair and works her magic. We’re thankful that she crafted this beautiful tale on love and loss. Catch Ulan in theatres!
