That Thing Called Tadhana' Made On A Limited Budget Now Nearing P100 Million Mark

WE’RE GLAD that the Cinema One entry, “That Thing Called Tadhana”, shown last year on limited release, is now doing very well at the box office on its wider theatrical release. We’re told it’s nearing the P100 million mark. Not bad for an indie film made for only P3 million plus.

We saw it again and we’ve come to appreciate the performances of the two leads even more, Angelica Panganiban as Mace and JM de Guzman as Anthony. They’re both so natural, so relaxed, so effortless and give totally no frills but very winning performances.

Mace is actually the extended version of Alessandra de Rossi’s broken-hearted character who opens up her heart to a co-bus passenger in “Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig”. Both Alex and Angel are excellent in these two films that were both written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, who also did two other romantic-comedy films last year, “English Only, Please” (as writer) and “Beauty in a Bottle” (as writer-director), making 2014 as her true breakout year.

“Tadhana” won several awards in the Cinema One filmfest (including audience favorite award) and it is really a difficult movie to do as there are only two characters all throughout the movie and all they do is just talk and talk while travelling from Rome to Manila to Baguio and Sagada. No histrionics, no melodrama, no manipulative twists and turns except for the sudden appearance of JM Bascon in the end.

All those who have become brokenhearted at one time or another can easily relate with the plight of Mace, especially in that scene where she keeps on screaming “Ayoko na” while on a mountain top. Jadaone was apparently inspired not only by “One More Chance” (to which she pays profuse tribute in the movie) but also by Richard Linklater’s cult series of “Before...” films with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

And it’s obvious that she’s totally on her own and was not influenced by any nosey execom in executing what she has in mind. If this were made by Star Cinema, it would have been given a more explicit ending and not just one where JM is simply driving his car with a book on his lap.

We’re so glad JM has gotten rid of his substance addiction and made a successful comeback through this film. Otherwise, it would have been such a waste of good talent. This film should establish him as a major leading man. We hope ABS-CBN will soon be giving him more challenging roles as his star presence and fine knowledge of his craft certainly belongs to a much higher level than some of the other young actors on their stable right now.