MIRACLE IN CELL NO.

Miracle in Cell No. 7 is a 2019 Philippine drama film directed by

Nuel Crisistomo Naval. The film revolves around Lito (Aga Muhlach), a
mentally challenged man who was wrongfully accused of killing the
daughter of Secretary Yulo (Tirso Cruz III) as well as his attempt to
maintain relations with his own daughter Yesha (Xia Vigor) through the
help of his fellow inmates. Distributed and produced by Viva Films, the
film premiered on December 25, 2019 as one of the eight official entries
to the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival. I loved this movie so much a
truly heartwarming film. Its tragic and yet at the same time heartfelt. Most
of the movie was shot in the prison, but that’s where most of the comedy
happens despite the setting. Generally, It shows the positives side of a
prison life. The relationships between the prison inmates is an important
aspect to feel the real essence of the story. Joselito “Lito” Gopez is a
mentally impaired man with the intellect of a six-year-old. He lives in a
run-down house in Marikina River along with his daughter Yesha. One
day, he gets into a physical altercation with the Defense Secretary Yulo,
who has just purchased the last Sailor Moon backpack for his daughter, a
gift Lito was saving up to buy for Yesha. Soon after, Secretary Yulo's
daughter dies in a freak accident, in which she slips because of the wet
pavement and suffers a fatal blow in the head while taking Lito to a store
that sells the same backpack. When Lito tries to resuscitate her, her mother
mistakenly thinks he is molesting her. Lito is falsely accused of the
kidnapping, murder and rape of a minor. Police quickly take advantage of
his disability and force him to confess to the crimes while ignoring
exonerating evidence. Lito is imprisoned and assigned to Cell No. 7, the
harshest cell in a maximum-security prison.
The other men in the cell led by gang leader Soliman “Boss Sol”
with Mambo, Choy, Bong, and Tatang Celso initially don't take kindly to
Lito after reading in his file that he murdered and molested a child. When
Lito saves Boss Sol from being fatally stabbed by a rival gang leader, Boss
Sol repays the favor by smuggling Yesha into Cell No. 7. The cell's
inmates slowly befriend Lito and believe he is a good man who just
happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They help him
rehearse what to say at his trial. Eventually, even the warden Johnny, who
is initially harsh to Lito but softens up when the latter saves him from an
arson attack, realizes that Lito was merely cornered into making a false
confession. He takes custody of Yesha and allows her to visit her father
every now and then.
Secretary Yulo, however, threatens to harm Yesha if Lito doesn't
confess his "crime" during his trial. Lito ultimately chooses to sacrifice
himself by pleading guilty and getting the death sentence. His execution
date of December 23 coincides with Yesha's birthday. Before the date,
Boss Sol and fellow inmates work on a hot air balloon and force Lito and
Yesha to board to try and let them escape, but ultimately failed because
of a rope connected to the hot air balloon caught in a barbed wire, later on
in the film Lito was executed.
Years after Lito's execution, Yesha, who has been formally adopted
by Johnny, has become a lawyer. She gathers her father's former inmates,
all of whom have been released, to testify at her late father's retrial, which
results in his acquittal. She then imagines her father dancing with their
signature dance. It is one of the best movies I ever come across. I am
totally in love with the father-daughter duo…they pulled so many
emotional strings. Do keep a pack of tissues with you. The tears were
rolling through my eyes automatically from the beginning to the end as if
I couldn’t stop it... it’s heartbreaking and will leave you in tears even after
movie ends. A must watch for everyone. It will leave a great impact on
your heart for a lifetime. If you are your daddy’s girl, then watch this
movie because this movie is all about dad and daughter’s love. I love my
dad so much that’s why I was sobbing so much hope you guys enjoy this
movie. To all of you guys watch this movie with your whole family.
Highly recommended it. I’ll give this 9.5/10.