Movie Review: Ikaw Lang Ang Mahal

Andrei (Zanjoe Marudo), a filmmaker, takes a trip to Sagada, hoping to woo three national artists as a subject for his documentary. Andrei immerses himself in the mountainous region, meets locals, and becomes intimate with some of them. 

He then meets Lira (Kylie Verzosa), a best-selling author, who happens to be the niece of one of the artists that Andrei is trying to get in touch with. The two become close as Andrei asks for Lira’s help to meet the legendary artist. Andrei slowly falls for Lira and becomes more focused on being in love with her than achieving his plans for his documentary. Set in the beautiful mountains of Sagada, fall in love not only with the movie's characters and story but also with the cold and dreamy ambiance of the location.

 

Ikaw Lang Ang Mahal is an emotional love story anchored by solid performance from Zanjoe Marudo and Kylie Verzosa. I love the combination of Richard Somes' visual aesthetic, love story in a refreshing location and showcase of life of an artists in one film. There are many layers in the film that tackles what it takes to be an artist and how do they fall in love. This is the boldest movie of Zanjoe Marudo to date showing not only his body but also the depth of his character. Kylie Verzosa on the other hand reciprocates with her sensibilities and subtle emotional baggage in her character. It's delight to watch the film with its beautiful background, Sagada, where you can feel the freshness and coldness of the scenes parallel with the poignant characters in the film. Notable and good performance were given by the supporting cast (Joel Torre, Ronnie Lazaro, Evangeline Pascual and Lara Morena) that adds beauty to the story and helps to deliver the message of the film. Newcomer Cara Gonzales shows promise with her performance and shows potential as a serious actress to watch for. Ikaw Lang Ang Mahal is not a typical love story, it shows the journey of the two leads and how they influence each other on the path that they will take on their future. Ikaw Lang Ang Mahal is an affecting film which sweeps you into the world of its characters. So if you want to watch something new and different in Vivamax, this is worth streaming starting May 20.

My Verdict: 3.5/5