The movie was a 2014 independent film directed by Milo Sugueco and written by Jerrold Tarog. It was about a garment factory owner named Imelda Guevarra played by Mylene Dizon and her shoe-maker father, Romeo portrayed by Ricky Davao exploring grief, confusion, guilt and regret. The movie took place in two prominent periods in Imelda’s life: as a teenage and an adult. The film’s genre was a tragicomedy that mainly focused on the tragedies of Imelda’s life. Perhaps the only comedic thing about the movie was when she was finding a fit pair of shoes for her deceased father.
The movie started off when Romeo took his own life by jumping off a bridge. The then confused adult Imelda was also troubled with her business having demanding clients and failing quality control over her products. During the wake, her aunt Erlie was determined to find the perfect pair of shoes for the late loved one. She then requested Imelda the task. However, finding shoes only gave her bittersweet sentiments of her marred childhood. This part of the movie gives audience a glimpse of how it was back then for Imelda when she was a teen whose mother left and when her father’s business was in shortcomings. In an attempt to find the right shoe for her deceased father, she found herself being confused as to why her father would commit suicide. The deeper she searches for a pair of shoes, the more she start to truly realize what was in her heart.
In all honesty, it was a deeply emotional movie at the same time generously chaotic. A distant father to a daughter, Romeo trying to reconnect the ties and heal open wounds caused by the leaving Leonor. Romeo did not even had second thoughts on chasing and pleading her to come back. Maybe because, he already knew that she already fell out of love. Pettish teen Imelda, was unable to accept her father’s relationship with Tess, perhaps she was still trying to recover from the pain of her mother’s leaving. Tess trying hard to be as much as loving to the half-hearted father and daughter. Adult Imelda whom was supposed to be in weeping for her father’s mourning remained unmoved.
One scene that truly moved me was when adult Imelda broke down inside her car at a chapel whilst trying to find her father a pair of shoes. I was really caught off-guard and found myself crying and staggered in nothingness. I did not know what to write of this paper at first, it was as if words can’t come out of me. Watching the film for the second time, I was able to analyze what really made me tear Justine Jane B. Vibar May 21, 2019 11-STEM up. It must’ve been because of the alienated father to a daughter, Romeo trying to reconnect the ties and
heal open wounds caused by the leaving of Leonor. But then, things only took worse for both of them. Their relationship was deeply tainted by a devastating turn when Imelda left for Hawaii to be with her mother. One scene, where Romeo was eavesdropping on Imelda’s call with her mom, you can see an in depth emotional hurting through Romeo’s eyes as he hear his daughter tell the mother how unhappy she was living with her father.
To summate it all the director successfully crafted a brilliant senseful mellow slice of life featuring an intense coming-of-age story that really immersed audience to become sympathetic to the characters. I applaud the actors for such amazing talent. The writer has to be praised for creating such immersive plot.
One question as to why did Romeo committed suicide remains unanswered. Perhaps it is a question that shouldn’t be answered or perhaps the answer was already visible. Perhaps it was the loss of affection he received from his daughter that pushed him to do it. Whatever’s the answer to that question, it is a very commendable movie that I gratefully admire for its very powerful of the heart story.