After Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo, Star Cinema gives chance to another cross-TV network collaboration for a beautiful film that is “Hello, Love, Goodbye” with Kathryn Bernardo.
Alden Richards, coming from the phenomenal AlDub is the latest addition to the list of Kapuso stars to work with Star Cinema and to be partnered with an ABS-CBN / Star Magic artist. Just like Kathryn, Alden comes from a romantic-comedy themed role in both movie and TV projects and working to a dramatic movie will be a big challenge for Star Cinema, but still, they give chance to themselves with the help of director Cathy Garcia-Molina and head writer Carmi Raymundo on the film.
The film is about Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), a theme that is not new to Star Cinema after doing Dubai, Anak, Caregiver, and so many more. This is the second OFW themed movie set-up in Hong Kong after Anak with Vilma Santos. But what’s unique is the story is that Star Cinema gives us the ying, the yang and everything that circles around them.
We give chance to Joy (Bernardo) to share her story. A young woman who walks to a different path opposite from what she came from. The “good daughter” who will do anything for her family even sometimes it is hurting her. Kathryn showed the two sides of joy, yung umaakap sa kalungkutan at yung gustong tumakas sa kalungkutan (the embracing of pain and escaping from pain). We share with her dark side hoping to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
We also give chance to Ethan (Richards) to be part of our lives. A person who has given a chance in life but end up being a failure because of love. Like him, we have setbacks in our lives and wanting to start all over again. He is the one who hides in the mask of happiness and positivity even deep inside he is hurting. Alden showed us that happiness is something you can share and hope you will get something in return. But in the end, we end up going home empty because we keep on giving not thinking there is nothing left for us.
Joy and Ethan give us the chance to see ourselves in their characters and gives us the chance to think. What do we mean happiness in our lives? Does happiness mean is elevating ourselves from pain? “Hello, Love, Goodbye” gives us the chance to see the “pain” inside us in a metaphoric approach. It can be a pain because of frustrations, guilt, heartaches or physical pain. Also, there is “happiness” in the same state; it can be fulfillment, fun, love or reward.
In the end, the film gives us the chance to acknowledge that pain and give us two doors to enter. The door that leads us to escape and find happiness from someone who will compliment with us, and the other door that will take us to embrace the pain that will make us stronger and whole.
There’s a perfect balance in terms of storyline and characters in “Hello, Love, Goodbye”. The film is not 100% drama, there’s a comedy in it. It shows how resilient Filipino is. How hard life can be, we will try to make it light and easy hoping that tomorrow good favors will come to us because of our positive outlook in life. Thanks to Maymay Entrata, Kakai Bautista, Lovely Abella, Joross Gamboa and Jeffey Tam for the quick pause from drama.
“Hello, Love, Goodbye” is a kind of movie that should be included on your watchlist. Because aside from the big stars, the story has sufficient elements that you will love from start to finish.
