IVAN REGIS ARCENA 12- STEM- URIEL

MARCH 15, 2019 MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

KITA KITA
Film Criticism

“A whimsical and poignant plot that will surely blow off cliché chemistries…a motion picture that
will certainly tickle someone’s core— a rare gem.”

A thousand glimmering stars cannot outshine the rays of the sleeping moonlight. The Kita Kita
(I See You in English preference) was released on July 19, 2017, in the Philippines and March 10,
2017, in Osaka Asian Film Festival. The film was written and directed by the ingenious mind of
Sigrid Andrea Bernardo and produced by Lucky Blanco with co-production by Viva Films and
Bb. Joyce Bernal (a renowned director) and Piolo Pascual’s Spring Films. The movie was led by
Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez. The entire production of the film was flicked in
Hokkaido, Japan specifically in Sapporo. The movie received generally auspicious and positive
appraisals, achieving a blockbuster hit with ₱320 million and considered by CNN Philippines to
be one of the best rom-com films of the last 25 years despite independence.

The story orbits in the sphere of Alessandra de Rossi as Lea, a wanderer Filipino tour guide in
Sapporo who engaged for two years but later, discovered her fiancé duplicity and infidelity. She
was left with invisible scars and regrets that thoroughly affects her eyesight into a dim end. In the
crossroads, Empoy Marquez as Tonyo, a fellow Filipino and peeping tom who abodes near Lea’s
residence. Lost by their own isolation, two lonely hearts string their way to commonness and
acceptance.

Critical Reception

Creative elements formulate the ingenuity of the film like the dialogues, characters, camera
technique and etc. The dialogues between the characters in the film were clear and understandable.
It was an active process of dialogue since the characters were articulating and receiving
information. It was clearly observed that the characters were exchanging information from one
another. Marking it as a healthy process of dialogue. The camera techniques help the audience to
identify what mood and theme implied to the film. The camera technique used for flashbacks in
the movie was perfectly suited for the scenes because it emphasized correlational time relevancies.

Musical scores in the film like instrumental music help the scenes be connected to the
audience. The theme song “Two Less Lonely People in The World” that played during the scene
where Tonyo’s asked Lea to dance, clearly added the indication of two lonely hearts mutually
understand their isolation. Lea’s wardrobes were usually jumpers and shorts that signified her as a
nomad and traveler—a tour guide literally meanwhile, Tonyo’s garbs were frequently formal attire
in the film that clearly meant that Tonyo was an admirer.

Alessandra de Rossi here was different and exceptional from her usual role. From a
disputed antagonist of heavy dramas to the endearing protagonist of light dramas. Her lightness
and calmness in this film were superb and incredible as she showed her versatility as an actress.
Alessandra’s role as Lea in the film was imaginative, adorable and sweet-tempered glazed with
honey. Moreover, Empoy Marquez in this film was comical, diverting and sober. Not a -typical
Empoy who cracked corny jokes but in this film as Tonyo he had a serious side which according
to Director Bernardo, “to show equanimity of Marquez’s comedic and serious side through the
film.”

Issues Against Novelty

During the BEEA (Basic Education Exit Assessment) one of the items in Language was a
review of the film Kita Kita where it was presumed that the plot of the film was copied and imitated
from previous Thai/Taiwanese movie. According to the text, the Thai/Taiwanese film was also
produced from Sapporo which where the Kita Kita was produced and the entire plot was unlikely
the same.

It was implausible to say that both films were identical when they have their own
distinctions. Yes, they have the same manner of how the plot was twisted but they don’t have the
same ending. The film was originally thought by the Lucky Blanco, one of the producers of Kita
Kita. It was originally created to be a romance story revolving three people characterized as
unappealing. The script was then revised by Bernardo into a romantic-comedy encircling an
“unattractive” man shoot in an “attractive” place. The greatest motivation they had were the stories
of OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) who greatly work and sacrifice themselves for the love of
their parents, children, and country.

The movie stands out from the rest because of the erratic and capricious plot that will surely twist
you into a plain. A moving particle of atoms will surely be occupied space. Though some say that
Kita Kita was a little bit formulaic, it is a whimsical and poignant plot that will surely blow off
cliché chemistries. Mentioning the dynamic actions of the proton and electron. It was a motion
picture that will certainly tickle someone’s core. Generally, for rom-com films, a chestnut but the
atypical-duo of Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez added up the flavor of the film and
bloated the entire plot warped.

Equitable Opinions and Claims

From the moment that Lea suffered from temporary blindness, Tonyo started to bring foods for
her and waking her up in the morning by imitating rooster’s call. I know it was a normal thing for
Filipino to help a fellow Filipino, but what Tonyo did was a form of taking advantage of Lea’s
disability. Helping others always come with great responsibility and does not count as an unlimited
agent. Always remember that everything in this world has margins to create more space. Another
thing is, why her sister did not bring Lea with her to the Philippines when the time her sister visited
her in Sapporo? Does her sister doesn’t have a mind that Lea will surely suffer and underwent
hardships especially that she is [temporarily] blind?

Taking everything into account of extremity, the director was successful in delivering its purpose
to the audience. It was truly a remarkable and amazing masterpiece of Filipino artist, from the
starting point, plot elements, creative elements, and denouement. The film will not be
accomplished without the nonconforming- pair of electron charges: Alessandra de Rossi and
Empoy Marquez. Don’t ever miss this—a rare gem.