“By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote. In fact it is as difficult to appropriate the thoughts of others as it is to invent”— Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are very few movies that leave you with a mind numbing effect. Jun Robles Lana’s “About Us but Not About Us” is a soul-stirring masterpiece that starts as a casual conversation between close acquaintances and ends as life changing experience. The 91 minutes long thriller quickly submerges you into a world of proclivities, inappropriateness and profanity that are inexcusable and yet realistically dealt. The movie by no means is for the fainthearted as it queries the flaws of human nature while opening the “Pandora Box” of greed, lust, deceit; all neatly tied into an intricate web of lies. About Us But Not About Us makes you question your morality while the dulcet tones set the stage for a complex battlefield of mind and willpower. This film isn’t about who wins, but who loses more. With a minimalist setting and two actors ready to give a power packed performance, this theatrical style dialogue depicts humanity at its worst. There is no excuse for the choices we make and the film paints an unabashed impression based on this concept. It will be difficult to put it in words, but I’m going to try to summarize some of the most relevant aspects related to this classic.

What Is “About Us but Not About Us” About

Eric (Romnick Sarmenta) is 40 years old gay English Literature professor in UP. The storyline starts unraveling as Eric meets his favorite student, Lance (Elijah Canlas), for a casual meet and greet. Lance had once shown up for their online classes with bruises after being assaulted by his stepfather. To offer help, Eric allows him to stay at his vacant condominium, which trigger rumors about their relationship. In the present, Lance seems to have vacated the condo and is living with his aunt. As Eric questions him about the same, their conversation quickly spirals down a rabbit hole, where Eric discovers that there’s more to Lance than meets the eye.

The script cleverly revolves around Eric’s dead partner, Marcus. He is clearly a bone of contention as far as Lance is concerned. At 45, Marcus was one of the most popular authors of his generation. The reason for his sudden demise (presumably from a drug overdose) coupled with the rumors surrounding Eric’s affair with Lance, is the meat of this storyline.

The Main Leads & Their Chemistry

Before entering the restaurant for their meet, Eric checks himself in the mirror and applies makeup to smoothen his wrinkles. It makes you question the identity of the person he is meeting- is it an acquaintance or is he here for a date? This notion is quickly dispelled as Eric enters the restaurant and is greeted by his student Lance. Despite the casual conversation, the pair have low key vibes that spell interest and sensuality. It may be because Eric isn’t ready to act on this attraction- is it because he is still mourning his dead partner or because he truly believes that Lance is straight?

As the narrative builds up and Lance openly provokes Eric’s desires, it becomes apparent that Eric isn’t uninterested in Lance. Romnick Sarmenta does a fantabulous job portraying Eric’s emotions; I don’t think any other actor could have embraced this character as well as Romnick does.

Now, moving onto Elijah, he is definitely one of the finest actors in the current generation. And I’m not saying this because I’m biased. Elijah’s Gameboys The Series triggered the advent of Boys’ Love genre in the Philippines. As Cairo, he is already immensely popular in the BL community and his chemistry with Kokoy de Santos (Gavreel) is incomparable. So, I went into this movie with zero expectations for his fresh pairing with Romnick. Must admit, I wasn’t expecting such a zealous performance from them; they managed to leave me stupefied. Lancelot reminds me of an onion; as the layers are peeled, you are bound to shed tears. Elijah ruthlessly transforms from a meager student looking for a lifeline to a deceitful incumbent who is hellbent on destruction.

Is It A Worthwhile Watch

The film might seem straightforward, but it is simply otherwise. The unique setting is conducive to the storytelling with the camera dancing between the two actors as they steadfast into a performance of a lifetime. The cinematography doesn’t offer much because it is quite irrelevant to the story. The script would fall flat if it wasn’t accomplished by two actors who are the focal point of this narrative. Seemingly out of place, Eric tries to deal with the hard realities that Lance serves with an ice cold attitude; the script quickly plunges us into their screwed world with Eric realizing that his innocent student is anything but THAT. A large part of their conversation is centered around Marcus, who isn’t played by another actor. Might seem convenient, but both actors take turns playing the doppelganger to this mysterious character who hugely affects both Eric & Lance’s lives. Overall, the film is a well-written artwork with some gripping performances by two of the finest actors in the Filipino industry. Mostly character driven, About Us but Not About Us is unlike any other movie you have experienced before!

Rating- 4.5 out of 5

Streaming on- Amazon Prime