Warning: May contain spoilers
When you first read the title, Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha, you’d think it’s some bizarre tragedy of a family that strangely can’t weep. Though that premise might make for an interesting film, the actual movie is a Dramedy (Drama and Comedy) about one woman’s journey to find joy and contentment from reuniting a missing family; all the while discovering that happiness can arise in the most unlikely places.
Here are some reasons why it’s a Dramedy worth watching:
Distinctly Pinoy personas
When you think of the typical Filipino household, oftentimes you include the help as a part of the family. In Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha, Cora Dela Cruz (Sharon Cuneta) portrays the amo (boss) of the household while Bebang (Moi Marcampo) plays the household helper. Here you can see the kind of relationship these two characters have:
Throughout the film, you’ll be getting a dose of this strange yet hilarious friendship. Moreover, you’ll notice the small facets of Pinoy culture seamlessly integrated into their characters’ personas and backstories. One example of this was when Bebang (Marcampo) spoke with her mother about wanting to quit her job as a household helper to return to the province. But in typical Pinoy fashion, Bebang’s mother tells her that she must stay in her job to support her parents and siblings. It’s common in many Filipino families for the child to become the breadwinner — and this little detail made the film and the characters all the more relatable to Pinoy viewers.
The highs and lows of life
Just because a movie is able to make you laugh doesn’t mean it can’t reflect the realities of life. In fact, Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha explores the hardship of proving yourself to your loved ones and the difficulty of learning to let go when things are impossible.
Through Cora and Bebang’s journey, moviegoers experience a roller coaster of emotions — from feeling giddy and happy to feeling sympathy for the Cora’s situation. And it’s this kind of storytelling that makes this film stand out as a Dramedy in the industry.
A semblance of hope
When you first see Cora’s character onscreen with a bottle of whisky at-hand, you’d initially think that there was no hope for her. But through a series of adventures with Bebang and her uncle, Biboy (Niño Muhlach), Cora’s character finally sees the beauty in the little things and finds happiness despite not being able to unite the missing members of the family famously known as “Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha.” And this semblance of hope makes this Dramedy worth the watch for Pinoy viewers nationwide.
Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha was shown at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 1, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, U.P. Town Center, Solenad, and Ayala Center Cebu) as part of the 13th Cinemalaya Film Festival held last August 5-13, 2017.