First on-site screening
On March 19, 2022, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) welcomed audiences through their on-site screening held at the Cinematheque Manila Centre. The cinema resumes again after two years of discontinuation brought by the extreme surge of COVID-19 cases in the country and the then-strict protocols.
Each and everyone’s eyes glimmered as people had nostalgia for the experience of watching a film, literally inside the doors. The big screen, the cozy seats, and the atmosphere created with moviegoers. It was such a relieving moment.
With that, in celebration of National Women’s Month this year 2022, the FDCP prepared an event with the theme, “Cine Filipina 2022: Juana Tungo Sa Kaunlaran.” This initiative is set out to conduct film screenings, panel discussions, and other activities that highlight women. It primarily circulates on their struggles, significance, and rights.
The film that premiered last Saturday was “The Worst Person in the World,” directed by Joachim Trier with the genres of comedy, drama, and romance. This garnered various awards such as the OSCARS 2022 Nominee for Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature, BAFTA Awards, Cannes Film Festival, and more.
Movie Review
People say that the reality is scary — no one can manipulate or control the truth. In the events that individuals face on a day-to-day basis, it is inevitable to encounter tangled situations. People are bound in choosing decisions that can be unpleasant, risky, and challenging. Nonetheless, the reality is not based on fiction or imagination, and each person shapes their reality. This film highlighted them all in continuous chapters.
“The Worst Person in the World” is set in Oslo, Norway as it features Julia in the opening scene. She is a woman around her twenties, figuring out her life and discovering who she is in the process. At first, most could tell that the choices she made are not well planned or perhaps a straight-up decision without objective analysis. However, like every other person, handling one’s life is not perfect and expectations are just that.
The film is grouped into twelve specific chapters, prologue and epilogue as an additional, depicting the outline of events in Julia’s life. There were major parts, dull moments, and even minor inconveniences. But all in all, those will shape her shortly.
Julia’s story begins as she started as a medical student, followed by being a psychologist, and eventually, a photographer that ended up having an occupation in a bookstore. Her interests move up and down, which is a reflection of everyone’s happenings in life, especially at an early age.
One thing to be remembered here is how women in society are stuck in compliance with various stereotypes. The story highlights the pressure Julia feels when people are questioning her about her career and plans on having kids. As someone who is still on the journey, creating decisions on having kids is a pressure. She wants to sort her life first.
Besides that, her relationship with people, especially in dating, can be described as fluctuating. Before he settled with a comic artist older than her, Aksel, she had flings in the past. Then, during their relationship, a trigger came that put her life in a weighty direction. It is when she unexpectedly meets a man closer to her age named Eivind who is a barista. It is considered a love triangle and she loved the uncertainty of it all.
It also showed how imperfect family relationships are no matter how long it mends. This film is a representation of all the ups and downs people encounter. The messy, hard-hitting consequences that will eventually come along. The key takeaway in this film is that humans are bound to make mistakes whether for their rise or fall. And those stick with us, no matter what. However, we still have the power in us to pursue the things we think are better.
The Worst Person in The World entirely exhibits the possible reasons why people make decisions. You have to consider if that is for the best or worst. Are we doing this out of curiosity, excitement, and experience? Are we aware of the possible outcomes? Do we think that the given situation is worth pursuing?
Watching the film intently makes the viewers reflect and compare the happenings in Julia’s perspective to them. It is the realization that over the years, our principles may change. Even our likes and dislikes. How we see ourselves. In short, it shows the journey of growth and how nonlinear it is. Moreover, there are life-changing moments that we have to look into deeply because there is a strong chance that you may lose it when you did not take the risk or probably regret when you did. It is a matter of the things you want to happen to you. In every aspect of our lives, there will always be an obstacle and an opportunity. You have to learn how to distinguish the two.
Self-discovery is not what people ought to be as something that can happen overnight. It could take a year, or even decades, to be sure. Finding yourself will not make you lose track when that is your goal in the first place. Acknowledge that each part of our journey is for the betterment of our future.
Upcoming FDCP Events
“The Worst Person in the World” is still going to be presented from March 26 to 27, 2022 in Cinematheque Centre Manila. Now is the chance to watch and don’t miss the event!
For more information, kindly visit the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FDCP.ph
