The film neatly captures the sound of Sundays

Film review: Seven Sundays

MANILA, Philippines — Nothing prepares you for an intimate, if, scorching emotional connection after watching Cathy Garcia-Molina’s Seven Sundays.

It is a typical story of a family coping with impending death of a patriarch in the family. How they dealt with it gives the moviegoers a chance to reflect on the state of their own families and to realize how imperfect families really are and how utterly vulnerable everybody is in the end.

But the thing is Molina didn’t make a lachrymose tale out of it. Her storytelling is direct to the point, the actors deliver and at the end, you come to terms with the truth about each member of the family and how they coped with their own string of insecurities.

Ronaldo Valdez as Manuel Bonifacio gives us a rare portrait of a patriarch who is happy and content with what he has but concerned about the intermittent squabbling among his children. His kind of acting doesn’t call attention to itself; he flows with the story and interacts with the characters with just the right sense of humanity and candor.

Aga Muhlach as elder brother Allan was a perfect foil for the character of Dingdong Dantes and the two are indeed portraits of what is perceived as the achiever and underachiever in the family.

Enrique Gil delivers a quiet but powerful portrayal as Dex, the youngest in the family. Why he went astray gives his character the kind of pathos that lingers long after you’ve seen the film. One believes this is one of his best performances worthy of an acting award.

Cristine Reyes as Cha, the only daughter in the family, is typical of wives who keep a happy front but are disintegrating from the inside. Her acting has never for once waivered and she wraps up her character with a sense of redemption that is at once admirable.

The music of Jesse Lasaten keeps the storytelling light, avoiding the pitfalls of melodrama. The presence of comedians in the cast (among them Ketchup Eusebio) manages to add a dose of humor while the rest of the characters cope with impending death in the family.

Indeed, many things are commendable about the film.

The writing is excellent and perceptive, the ensemble acting is real and each actor can shine on their own but not at the expense of collaboration. This is one story where everyone is at his best and truly in character.

This is a good reflection of the sensitive direction of Molina who managed to achieve a high degree of collaboration within the cast.

But most of all, the film appeals directly to the heart and soul of every family. One has not seen a family picture that teaches love and forgiveness with heart-rending dispatch.

As it is, the film beautifully captured the sound of Sundays in a household that has seen happier days.

Whether you like it or not, Seven Sundays is easily the family drama of the year.

Predictably, it was rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board which is highly deserved.

Seven Sundays is now showing in cinemas.