Movies That Bring Us Back To Love

I was able to watch two films of entirely opposite genres over the long weekend: Disney’s well-received family film “Pete’s Dragon”, and South Korea’s breakout hit thriller “Train To Busan”.

“Pete’s Dragon” tells the story of an eleven year old boy who grew up in the jungle with a dragon, after his parents’ car crashed when he was 5. His and his dragon’s quiet lives were shaken when humans discover their existence.

The film continues Disney’s winning streak of live action, family-oriented flicks, following “Cinderella” and “The Jungle Book”. “Pete’s Dragon” may not be as big or popular than those mentioned, but everything in it is as strong and as palatable. Maraming pelikulang aantig sa ‘yo, totoo. Pero yung tatagos talaga – ito yun. It is a stirring tale of finding yourself, and where you belong.

It helped that the lead actor who plays Pete is a less known actor – may mystery running in him na na-translate sa character. Mata pa lang niya while delivering his lines, madadala ka na.  Bryce Dallas-Howard and Robert Redford provided strong and solid support. Hindi man ganun ka-pleasing on-screen tingnan si dragon at first sight, it grows on you as the film developed, na pagdating sa dulo mahal mo na siya at ayaw mo nang bumitiw sa kanya.

“Train To Busan”, meanwhile, is a suspense-apocalyptic story of a father whose strained relationship with his kid daughter leads them to ride a train going to Busan, in the midst of zombie-attack all over Korea.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been reading and hearing all over how thrilling and scary this film is. So when I finally decided to join the bandwagon, in-expect ko na matatakot o magugulat talaga ako. That I was in for a ride of thrills and screams. E mag-isa pa akong nanuod. I thought, “ang tapang ko”.

But “Train To Busan” is more than just a suspenseful cinematic treat. It really is a good film. One of the best we’ve seen this year. Hindi ka lang gugulatin o tatakutin. It is emotionally affecting. Buong-buo ang story at characterization, kakapit ka from start to end. The actors brought to life the varying emotions the film required – from the scariest to the most poignant, you’d wish them good or bad as the story progressed. At bilib ako sa endurance ng buntis na character at ng baby niya sa gitna ng bakbakan at gulo.

I also took good notice of the film’s underlying social commentary. While nahu-hook tayo sa mga gulatan at fighting the zombies scenes, which my senses find horribly good (at yung mga tao sa sinehan ay sumisigaw talaga), “Train To Busan” is actually letting us see of the universalities and realities of humanity in the midst of crisis and struggles. Of how our values, principles and relationships are tested, and how we are defined by our decisions and choices.

If may common between “Pete’s Dragon” and “Train To Busan”, it’s actually the thought that everything brings us back to love. Yes, we are flawed. We have our selfish motives. We fight to survive. But at the end of every journey, it is love and the sacrifices we make in the name of it that define our being. Thus, even if the two films give us entirely different experience, we come out of theatres feeling good, at may baong aral about living and loving, brought about by their characters and journeys that not just touched but moved our hearts.