A tale of two mothers

MANILA, Philippines - You come face to face with two profiles of mothers in the TV5 telemovie, More Than Words.

One (Jackie Lou Blanco) inhabits the upper class and she is perennially chastising her daughter Emily (Sarah Lahbati) over one thing or the other. She hates the litter in her room, she hates her daughter’s music and she is perpetually frustrated that she — who finished schooling abroad — remains jobless and hopping from one bistro bar to another still trying to figure out what to do with her life.

The other one, Sabel (sensitively played by Alice Dixson) is a virtual enigma. In this small community of parolees managed by a no-nonsense lady (superbly played by Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino), she is a good cook but she looks like a wounded bird, always lost in deep thought and she stutters. Her face mirrors what looks like a harrowing past and she can’t read or write. From her daily routine, you discover she is looking for a lost daughter.

Emily, as a volunteer teacher, arrives and comes face to face with Sabel and her predicaments. She teaches Sabel how to read and write, and a strange closeness develops. It turns out there is something in their past that will solve the riddle of their restless lives.

There are many things going for this telemovie ably directed by Jon Red.

The material is rich and indeed timely for the observance of Mother’s Day.

Jackie Lou delivers a scathing performance as a bitter, if, insecure wife made more miserable by the presence of an adopted daughter. Her looks mirror the haughty profiles of the upper class and she is inconsolable that an ex-convict is about to work as the household cook. Like it or not, Jackie Lou’s character is the most hated one in this telemovie and she delivers without fail. In the latter part of the telemovie, you discover her vulnerability and the transition reveals her uncanny savvy as an actress.

Ariel Rivera (as the husband) is the perfect foil and here we see a loving husband trying to make sense of her wife’s hatred for the adopted daughter. Ariel is just right for the part and here we see a good balance between the most loved and the most hated character.

In a most welcome transition, Alice is deglamorized in this telemovie and she carves a role that she hasn’t played in real life. But in this latest movie assignment, there is genuine pathos in her approach and a soul reaching out for love and understanding.

Sarah — in a kind of acting one will not call outstanding — shows a highly-promising performance that did ensemble justice to the parts of Shamaine, Alice, Jackie Lou and Ariel. In time, she will be better and more sensitive — and that will take some time. Meanwhile, she passed the initial test and she should have more room for improvement.

While the music in general hued to the mood of the story, one finds the theme song extremely jarring despite the credentials of the interpreter who sang it live during the preview. A poignant story need not be burdened by contrived melody that feels strange in English.

For all its minor flaws, More Than Words is a fitting Mother’s Day offering giving us meaningful insights on the profiles of mothers in various stations in life.

After the screening, the cast gave the media an idea on how mothers figure in their real-life roles.

Jackie Lou — who movie writer Ronald Constantino describes as the epitome of kindness in real life — says she portrayed the hated part with much help from the director. “From my experience, mothers don’t ask much from their children. They don’t care for material gifts. They only need their presence and here the small things count, not the big ones. They cherish every little moment in their children’s lives and that’s what motherhood is all about.”

Alice hopes she doesn’t have to do movie promotion on Mother’s Day so she can be with her mother on that day. “Mothers are known for many good things but one thing stands out — their unselfish love.”

Carl Guevarra, who acquits himself well as Sarah’s friend in the telemovie, says there is only one word that will describe his mother: “Maalaga (thoughtful and caring).”

More Than Words airs on Sunday, May 11, on TV5.