Julia Barretto and Carlo Aquino in MMFF 2024 Entry - Hold Me Close

 

When a restless traveler crosses paths with a clairvoyant girl, will the stars align in their favor or is heartbreak the only vision ahead?

This Christmas, let’s hold on to love as Julia Barretto and Carlo Aquino team up anew to defy fate in ‘Hold Me Close.’ Written and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the romance-drama masterpiece hits theaters nationwide on December 25 as Viva Films’ official entry for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Carlo portrays Woody, a wandering soul who has traveled from one town to another for the past seven years, searching for a place he can finally call home. His journey leads him to the city of Karatsu in Saga, Japan.

There, he meets Lynlyn, played by Julia, a charismatic but enigmatic squid vendor at the local port market. They instantly connect, and Woody is starting to believe he has finally found home.

 

However, Lynlyn harbors a secret that has kept her isolated from the world— she possesses a unique psychic ability that allows her to detect whether a person will cause joy or pain in her life just by touching them. This “gift” has kept her wary of forming connections. 

 

At first, Woody does not register anything to her, which she believes is better than registering negative. It’s also the first time that someone expresses interest in her, so she lets him court her. But one day, Woody suddenly registered negative to her. Her gift foretells that he will bring her pain. As a result, Lynlyn distances herself from Woody despite the undeniable connection between them.

 

But Woody is out to prove Lynlyn wrong. Can his persistence change her mind despite the warnings of fate? Does the heart truly know better than destiny? Find out if Lynlyn and Woody can defy what seems to be written in the stars.

 

Filmed in Japan, ‘Hold Me Close’ marks the second time Julia and Carlo are sharing the big screen following their 2022 movie, ‘Expensive Candy,’ also helmed by Laxamana. 

 

 

Watch as the cast Julia Barretto, Carlo Aquinoand and director Jason Paul Laxamana share their fond moments and take us behind the scenes in filming Hold Me Close.

 

 

 

 

 

While ‘Expensive Candy’ tackled more daring themes, Julia and Carlo will surely tug our heartstrings in ‘Hold Me Close’, further proving their versatility as actors. And with the recent success of Julia Barretto’s romance movie with Joshua Garcia, Un/happy For You, movie fans can expect another compellingperformance from her.

 

‘Hold Me Close’ also marks a much-anticipated MMFF return for both stars— Barretto’s last appearance in the festival was in 2016 with ‘Vince and Kath and James,’ while Aquino’s was in the 2012 entry ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll XIV.’

 

Laxamana is no stranger to the festival either, having competed last year with the action-adventure epic ‘Penduko.’ He’s also known for his successful romantic dramas including ‘100 Tula Para Kay Stella’ and ‘Just a Stranger.’

 

Don’t miss Julia and Carlo as they reunite once more to see if love can truly conquer the cautions of destiny. ‘Hold Me Close’ opens in cinemas nationwide on Christmas Day.