Antoinette Jadaone's 'Alone / Together' to hit cinemas this Valentine's Day

Alone/Together is an upcoming Philippine romantic drama film written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, starring Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil. The film was produced by Black Sheep Productions and Project 8 Corner San Joaquin Projects and is distributed by ABS-CBN Films on February 13, 2019.

The teaser was uploaded by the production company on January 20, 2019 and garnered almost 5 million views in 24 hours since its released. The full trailer was uploaded on February 1, 2019. The movie was scheduled to hit the cinemas this coming February 13, 2019.

The film is directed and written by Antoinette Jadaone. Jadaone was best known for directing various "heartbreaking" films such as 'Never Not Love You', 'Love You to the Stars and Back', and 'The Break up Playlist'.

The movie was shot partly within the campus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman and in famous art museums in New York such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art and Guttenheim. “Alone/Together” marks Soberano and Gil’s fourth big-screen project together. 

the trailer shows the couple plotting their dreams and future together, deciding on what their future professions will be, only ending up to be achieved separately after Christine ended their relationship one gloomy night. In the next scene, Raf appears holding a ring box as he pleads Christine not to leave but the girl did otherwise.

Markedly more mature in appearance, the ex-lovers meet each other again, with Raf asking Christine a series of “what-if” questions and thinking about how different their present lives would be if those 'what-ifs' unfolded into reality. The questions put them on a nostalgic road to rekindling their romance, but their circumstances, reality and their responsibilities prohibit it; they’re both commited with someone else.

The film is an emotional rollercoaster that not only focuses on Raf and Tin's relationship, but also about the hardships and issues Tin faced during the years of Raf's absence. It tackles a lot of nostalgia reminiscing about youth, college life, the people we've been with, our passion and dreams that we've been holding on to.

The film exemplifies lessons not only about love and relationships but mostly about life, oppurtunities, passion and dreams.

A scene in New York where Tin and Raf began arguing about her sudden revelation why she left Raf five years ago shows us that people have different perspectives about something and the only thing we can do is respect and understand those because we know to ourselves that those views stand by a good point.

But, have you ever wondered why the film is entitled Alone/Together? According to some viewers, the movie garnered the title because of Tin and Raf's venture in New York where they were alone together. 

An important message from the film is it failed to romanticize cheating. Raf broke up with his girlfriend before he went on the trip, while Tin broke up with his specific other the soonest she could muster up courage and say the matter in person. If the movie did romanticize it, Raf and Tin would cheat on their specific others.

The film did not glorify the idea that cheating is cool or a trend in some way. It depicted through Tin's dialogues that the said act is and will always be wrong. The film shows that cheating is wrong, and the viewers should think likewise.

Just like any other melancholic love story, the movie is sure to be a tear-jerker and will give the viewers a hunch of ideas and their own series of 'what-if' questions as well.

"The movie was quite emotional for me. It expresses problems of couples nowadays, kumbaga ano pag pinanood mo mapapaisip ka na lang kung may totoong pag-ibig pa ba sa mundong ito. Overall, it was a great movie." 

"I love the idea of the movie na napag-isa niya yung matters that millenials would say mahalaga sa panahon ngayon. I liked how, kahit marami yung mga ideas na pinaparating na naiintindihan mo pa rin yung gustong ipahiwatig ng bawat dialogue at scene. Napakatagos puso lang. A very recommended movie for viewers of all ages talaga."

Next, the film told us that if the person wants you, he or she will pursue you. Countless times, s/he will choose you even if you think you're unworthy. No distance, no time lost, no circumstance, nothing will stand in the way. 

So let us move on from people who doesn't deserve us and let's just pray fr those who would pursue us with pure intentions that will help us become better people. 

And finally, the film reminds us to not forget.

To forget means to lose a part of us, a part of us that once knew how to act on a difficult situation in our life like Tin said, "traydor ang mga alaala", but these memories will always become a part of who we once were.

The film is a very well written story with an inspiring plot and very valuable life lessons that I think is suitable for any age of viewers. It also shows morals and ideas on how we can act towards a particular event in our life where we feel like were losing hope or everything we have. 

sources:
'Alone/Together' gets an A rating from CEB
ALONE / TOGETHER official trailer
Alone/Together Movie Poster