The Sweet Tale of Anita

Ang huling cha-cha ni anita (Anita's Last Cha-Cha, 2013)

Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernando

I wasn't expecting anything from this movie until I've seen it, and when i finally seen it i was very surprise on how intricate it was, pretty much controversial if you took the view point of the other people. Before watching this movie the audience must understand that it tackles a very sensitive subject, and for that i must say the film is mostly redirect for Open-Minded people and to those who have wider understanding.

The psychological aspect of this film was handed very well thanks to it's fantastic writer and director Sigrid Andrea Bernando. Despite of its very sensitive theme, it does look charming on way of its execution with the help its performances, the overall movie indeed created a very sweet retelling of love, sexual desire, infatuation, abortion, and teenage pregnancy. From what it seems to be premise, the film simply tells a lot things around it yet very well crafted that it created a good, fun and heartwarming film.

Anita's last Cha-Cha tells a compelling story about a 13 year old girl named Anita played by a very surprising newbie young actress Teri Malvar, who strangely falls in love with a mature woman Pilar played by amazing Angel Aquino who just came back to their town after working overseas. Considering that Pilar is Anita's first crush, Anita's mind came out from confusing whether she wanted be a real girl or not forced by her mother lolita (Lui Manansala). After Anita's sneaking process finally she and Pilar becomes friend and Anita started to make her moves, yet little bit Anita's know that Pilar was also the former lover of her close cousin played by Marcus Madrigal. In this film the more it reveals a lot more things about the story of each characters which makes them more complex as if they are at first.

The story might sound really strange, and if this movie wasn't executed the way it should be now, it will look so weird, but it wasn't. That is the most compelling thing about this movie is the fact that the story was told in a very proper way, for me personally, because I've heard a lot people that while watching the film they felt uncomfortable and it came mostly from the people who have a daughter, yet to my side it is a good eye opener film, especially for today's society, younger people got into more crucial thinking than ever, thought love and clingy, which is controversially shown in this movie.

I gotta give compliment to the fantastic actors in this movie. Angel Aquino's performance was so enthralling from start to end, the way camera works just pans right through her its just very compelling, she surprisingly looks very good and beautiful in very shot that you've this kind of seductive feeling, which her character was supposed to be yet it contradicts her personality as a character, this where the director wants us judge her as seductive woman yet she really wasn't, and that is one of the little thing i notice, that the movie wasn't put us into the perspective of Anita or Pilar rather it put us to the perspective of ourselves on how we judge a person. Anita was played by this unknown young actress Teri Malvar which i wanted to give a huge compliment for taking this role with maturity despite of her age. She's natural for the real, she acts to her age, and It's a talent that is undeniably fantastic and you cannot think twice of saying any compliment about it.

Talking about It's sensitive subject, it has a lot of thing of it, from teenage pregnancy and the decision of acceptance to which goes into the subject of abortion. It all those stuff you'll think of it as generic topic to tackles if the a movie is a bit controversial that is not the thing this film a bit controversial that is the fact the blossoming of a 13 year old girl into lesbianism, that is theme that might be sensitive yet it also has an importance for today's social situation. That is in early young age a person can know what he/she really wanted to be, yes already told but it's in opposite sex, one of which 2005 "The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros".

Another thing is the film talks about love as a whole, not as divided on what it seems, like it talks about friendship, trust and honesty yet the real thing is the film talks about love. You can see that in the relation between Anita and people around her specially with her friends Goying and Carmen, that is in very young age they already have this kind critical thinking about relationship and marriage which as at my age right now i could really there's some 13 years old who think like that which leads into intimacy in very young age cause early pregnancy and early companionship of young individual.

Overall for me personally i think the movie enthralled me a lot. I was compelled on it's execution about a certain subject that mostly ended up as mess but not in this film which was a really fun to watch, I'd enjoy it and as a psychology student i think my mind was naturally ready to understand the theme of it, and people are supposed because i think that is the main objective of the movie. Like i said before It's an eye opener film, that talks a mature and daring topic about gender and young thinking about love interest, yet it told into a very sweet and charming tale. I must say i really recommend people to see this movie, it might not be kind of solid film like "Maximo Oliveros" but it has strength of it's own, the performance of the actors really help it.

I might recommend as must watch i also not all people can enjoy and can be entertained about this film. due of what we say sensitivity that has, but again for my personally view point it is a very exquisite type of film. With it's brave story telling i can tell the movie really puts my into another discovery of curiosity. The film is bound to be an statement to the youth and the society.

I have seen it on iflix it was available in it. Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita (Anita's Last Cha-Cha) is directed and written by Sigrid Andrea Bernando Starring Angel Aquino, Teri Malvar, Jay Bordon, 

Marcus Madrigal, Lenlen Madrigal, Lui Manansala and more...