Will they or won’t they? End up with each other – that is.
This is a universal theme in most romantic movies. In boy-meets-girl plots, the two lead stars often end up happily ever after – unless, of course, if it’s a Shakespearean tragedy. But in stories where the characters start out as friends, that is always a guessing game.
Two friends falling in love with each other, however, has an incestuous feel to it, don’t you think? Wasn’t that the feeling when the characters of the very successful comedy series Friends started hopping into bed with each other?
Monica Geller (Courtney Cox) and Bing Chandler (Matthew Perry) falling for each other was acceptable, especially since the relationship ended up in marriage. The romance between Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross Geller (David Scwhimmer) was, hmm, still acceptable. But Rachel Green and Joey Tribiani (Matt LeBlanc) flirting with each other when they were roommates was totally off.
The romances in Friends perhaps was difficult to accept because we let the characters there into our living rooms for many years. They are like family members misbehaving when we see them doing intimate scenes.
When Harry Met Sally and other movies about friendships blossoming into romance are easy to embrace because we only meet the characters at the start of the film. There’s no emotional involvement in them yet – unlike in a sitcom like Friends.
Now comes a Netflix feature that is also about friendship that may or may not turn to romance. It is called My Amanda and its story revolves around the friendship between Amanda (Alessandra de Rossi) and TJ (Piolo Pascual). Except for the fact that they don’t copulate, the two behave practically like a romantic couple. Why, they even have terms of endearment for each other: Fuffy for him and Fream for her.
They are so comfortable with each other that they snuggle in a hammock – body to body, skin to skin – like they are lovers. And what about this? Amanda casually walks into the shower with a supposedly naked TJ and that is taken lightly.
Of course, there are instances when Amanda would tease TJ about the two of them having sex. But you don’t even know how serious is that dare.
So do they end up together? Watch it on Netflix to find out because there are no spoilers here.
But there is one aspect of the film that can be revealed here. It’s not your typical two friends falling for each other bit. No shades of Star Cinema for a change.
My Amanda is a film made by Alessandra herself. Starting out merely as the sister of Assunta de Rossi who became famous first, Alessandra came into her own rather magnificently.
To begin with, she already showed great promise even as a newcomer – earning accolades as a supporting character to Assunta’s lead part in the award-winning Hubog. Plying between mainstream projects (soap operas, mostly) and indie films, she was able to hone her acting craft even further and is presently one of the finest actresses of her time.
And now, she has brought her artistic expression to a more complicated level – as a filmmaker this time around. For My Amanda, she is said to have worn many hats: as actress, director, writer, co-producer and even editor.
As an actress, she had always exercised restraint. She utilizes the same kind of artistic discipline as director (and as an actress, too) here in My Amanda.
As a first-time director, she is intelligent enough to realize that she shouldn’t be overly ambitious with her maiden venture as filmmaker. And it worked in her favor. As a result, My Amanda turns out to be a neat and cohesive movie.
Sure, it looks like one very simple film. There is beauty, however, in simplicity. That is one of the many charms of My Amanda.
The film’s material is said to be based on true life circumstances – Alessandra’s relationship with her best friends, most of whom happen to be men. Yes, platonic friendship is possible between two friends of the opposite sex.
By observation, a female who chooses a male to be her best friend is most likely a strong and highly-accomplished woman (which Alessandra is, no doubt about it). Due to the forceful nature of a female with a strong personality, other women feel intimidated or threatened by her. As they say, among women, every day is a beauty contest.
Friendship between male and female is possible and long-lasting because that eliminates competition. At least, they don’t have to compete in the looks department and argue whether one is prettier than the other.
This kind of friendship is so ideal that some insist they make for the perfect husband and wife team since the foundation of the union is strong. But on the downside, if the relationship doesn’t work, there goes one great friendship down the drain.
In the story of My Amanda, even the grandmother of Amanda (Luz Valdez) cheers them on to become a couple. Surely, even the viewers want them together. And it helps that they have this fantastic chemistry between them.
But, of course, there are also those who do not want the relationship between Amanda and TJ to go to the next level anymore so as not to ruin the friendship. It’s truly fun to watch them together and interact with each other. It’s best to keep that intact.
The way the scenes unfold all throughout the film also makes anyone watching My Amanda riveted to the story. Alessandra de Rossi as director obviously knows how to handle her material and she is clearly familiar with it inside out.
And while there is nothing extraordinary about the film’s technical elements, everything seems to be in order. There certainly is nothing amateurish about her debut work as director.
Some women directors before her went through more agonizing birth pains. Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s first movie, Tanikala, for instance, was mercilessly panned by the critics. It’s the same with Laurice Guillen, who received critical acclaim as director only after several other film projects.
Alessandra is surely on her way to joining the ranks of other young, but already accomplished women directors – the likes of Hannah Espia, Antoinette Jadaone, and Rae Red.
Given her passion for cinema, it won’t come as a surprise if she even surpasses the achievements of Marilou Abaya and Laurice Guillen. All three actually have one thing in common: they are all very good actresses – yes, even Abaya, who was a respected theater actress.
Alessandra, however, has to get out of her comfort zone in her succeeding directorial projects to be able to hone her skills further as filmmaker. But, meanwhile, she should relish the success of her first ever film as director. For My Amanda is truly worth watching.
Congratulations for a job well done, Direk Alex!
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Source: Pinoy Ako News
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