An end-of-the-world love story in ‘Ikaw at Ako at Ang Ending’

CEBU, Philippines — After last June’s “Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam,” real-life couple Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles pair up once more in another film, “Ikaw at Ako at Ang Ending” directed by Irene Villamor (“Camp Sawi,” “Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story,” “Meet me in St. Gallen,” “On Vodka, Beer and Regrets,” “Ulan”).

Now streaming on ktx.ph, iWant TFC, TFC IPTV and on Vivamax, “Ikaw at Ako at Ang Ending” is a story of two hopeless strangers who meet in an unexpected time when both are trying to escape their miserable realities.

“Tungkol ito sa dalawang masamang tao na kung titingnan mo, walang light sa kanilang buhay. And when they meet, they found light in each other’s presence. It’s about finding light in someone,” Villamor began in a recent virtual conference. “To live is to love – that’s the message of the film.”

Drawing inspiration from the pandemic and the end-of-the-world mood that came with it, Villamor said she purposefully wrote this story for Kim and Jerald – Viva contract stars who’ve been among the busiest despite the pandemic.

“Nagsusulat pa lang ako, sila na talaga nasa isip ko. I knew it was going to be perfect for them,” she said. “If you have good actors and you have perfectly casted your characters, 90 percent of your job as a director is already done.”

Villamor noted how the couple’s collaborative efforts helped her in the whole shooting process.

“It was made easy for me. Since couple sila in real life, I didn’t have to exert any effort to build the chemistry or para matanggal ang awkwardness. All-out sila.”

As seen on the film’s trailer, love scenes somehow became an icing on the cake. Since Kim and Jerald are beyond comfortable with each other, Villamor at times became the one who felt awkward instead.

“I’ve always been protective of my leading ladies kasi especially when it comes to love scenes. Sa movie na ito, nadala ko pa rin kasi yun like pinapatakip ko pa talaga si Kim ng towel. But sila na mismo ang nagsasabi sa akin na okay lang talaga sa kanila,” shared Villamor, whose professionalism Kim praised.

Jerald quipped: “Sa love scenes, sumobra pa nga kami, sila pa yung sumuko.”

Villamor further shared that the biggest challenge on filming was the time constraints. “Ang oras talaga pinakamahirap na challenge kasi 12-14 hours lang limitation namin, pakiusap na nga lang pag umabot kami ng 16 hours. First time ko mag-action film tapos ang konti lang ng oras ko. Parang ang dami mo pang gustong gawin but you have to economize.”

For Jerald, growing up in the slums of Tondo, Manila proved helpful in his role as a hitman.

“Laking Tondo ako eh. Mga hitman yung ibang kainuman ko tapos marami ring mga prostitute dun, kaya alam ko ang realidad ng mga karakter namin ni Kim,” he said.

It wasn’t the case for Kim though. “Nahirapan akong maging pokpok dahil lumaki ako sa Saudi Arabia at hindi po ako ganun as a person,” she said, before jokingly adding, “mukha lang po.”

With the film’s “now or never” premise, the director and stars were asked what they would do if they had only one day left to live.

“Uuwi ako sa bahay namin sa Antipolo kasama si Je. Since nasa Saudi Arabia naman parents ko at di sila makauwi, bubuksan ko lang ang videocall at matutulog ako,” Kim said, while Jerald and Villamor both replied that they’ll call their loved ones to talk about their happy memories together so they would die happy.

“Gusto ko kung mawala na ako sa mundong ito, ang mundo pa yung magpapasalamat sa akin tapos ako pa ‘yung magsasabi ng ‘You’re welcome.’ But I don’t prepare for death but for life,” said Jerald.