Movie Review: Dito at Doon

Political Science graduate Len (Janine Gutierrez), 28, has been working hard for her planned bright future when the pandemic hit.  Early into the lock down, she takes to social media to voice concerns about how people's reactions to the lock down. Online, she gets into a heated exchange with a certain Carlo, who judges her without knowing her personally.  To relieve her stress, she invites her friends to an e-numan.  It is through this online session that she meets Caloy (JC Santos), a friend of a friend.  With his seemingly mature charm, Caloy, 31, is able to draw Len's interest instantly.  Sadly, their opposing views on current events lead them to attack each other, despite not knowing each other fully well. 

Dito at Doon is an epitome of a love story in time of quarantine.  It is well written, very timely, relatable and the feels are overflowing. The film truly capture what it takes to fall in love at this time.  All of the things that we've done at home from online rant, e-numan, dalgona coffee  up to being plantita are finely integrated to the story. Dito at Doon creatively done a quarantine love story that hasn't done before in a series or film. The characters felt so near to each other yet so far making them a good representation of LDR of this time. Janine Gutierrez embrace the character of a strong woman that became soft when fell in love while JC Santos effectively capture a guy that you can easily fall in love with. The supporting actors Victor Anastacio and Yesh Burce  balance the mood of the film throwing the fun and conscience to the two leads while Lotlot De Leon is a reminder of social issues outside and shows another dynamics of relationship that Janine have in life. The cinematography, editing and screenplay were decently weaved together making the characters socially and emotionally connected yet physically distant.  Dito at Doon with all its hugot, kilig and fine actors is definitely a romance love story Filipino film to beat this year.

 

My Verdict: 4/5