Win Metawin and Janella Salvador make for a compelling duo in this conventional romantic drama on unexpected connections.
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Slight spoilers for Under Parallel Skies ahead.
Is it possible to love someone who is the exact opposite of you? That’s the question posed by Under Parallel Skies, the first movie from local production company 28 Squared Studios. Directed by Sigrid Bernardo and starring Janella Salvador and Win Metawin, this cross-country production dives into finding connections in things that seem so different yet are running in parallel with one another. It tells the story of a Thai bachelor named Parin (Metawin) who travels to Hong Kong in search of his missing mother. He encounters a Filipino hotelier named Iris (Salvador), who helps him navigate love, heartbreak, and healing in the foreign city amid their differences in culture and identity.
But beyond the headline-making team-up the movie has given us, is Under Parallel Skies flying into clear skies? Much like the story it’s trying to tell, the movie gets to its answer but does so without reinventing the wheel in any meaningful way. Before you head out to the cinema to see if the movie is worth your money, we break down what we liked (and didn’t) about Under Parallel Skies.
THE SCREENPLAY IS SCREENPLAYING
Director and writer Sigrid Bernardo did her thing when she wrote the screenplay. She used her personal experiences to fuel Under Parallel Skies with dialogue that hits on a deeper level. Some scenes, like the sunrise and sunset scene, have dialogue that’s truly quotable and memorable. Beyond just dealing with the butterflies of being in love, there are moments where the script delves into what it really means to be happy.
THE MOVIE SHOWS A DIFFERENT SIDE OF HONG KONG
While Hong Kong often conjures ideas of a bustling cosmopolitan with neon lights, Under Parallel Skies smartly moves away from the more fast-paced sections of the city. A majority of the movie is set in quieter parts of town, such as the island of Peng Chau. It’s in these moments where we get the more intimate scenes as the setting gives Iris and Parin time to build a more meaningful connection. In general, the movie does a good job of incorporating Filipino, Thai, and Cantonese culture into the story without it being too in your face. The multiculturalism on display here feels fit for the plot and not something that was shoehorned in at the last minute.
THE DIRECTION GIVES THE MOVIE A MORE INTIMATE FEEL
An aspect of the film that stands out for the right reasons is its use of tight shots and up-close framing. It gives the movie a more personal tone as the audience is brought ever-so closer to Parin and Iris’ growing relationship. Instead of sweeping shots of Hong Kong, we’re treated to the two in more intimate and tight spaces. This is Iris and Parin’s story, and director Sigrid Bernardo ensures it.
WIN AND JANELLA ARE A GOOD COMBO
Any doubt that Win Metawin and Janella Salvador would drop the ball gets thrown out within Under Parallel Skies’ first 10 minutes. They deliver both as a duo and solo. Janella arguably gives the better performance of the two with how she includes nuances and little quirks to Iris, like the inclusion of Filipino phrases. Still, Win has some room to play, especially in the movie’s latter half.
THE PLOT IS PREDICTABLE
Under Parallel Skies aims to tell a story about finding connections in the most unexpected places. But it does so in expected ways that dips at times. In particular, Parin comes to Hong Kong to look for his mother. It’s an interesting plot line, especially when they get to the fishing village, and makes for one of the most poignant scenes in the entire movie. But once that is resolved, the movie moves on to Parin and Iris’ love story. It feels like a wasted opportunity to go beyond the bad-boy-meets-good-girl trope. And it isn’t helped by an ending that is telegraphed miles away.
SO-SO CHARACTERIZATIONS
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: a spoiled rich boy who is broken on the inside meets a working-class and hardworking girl who teaches him to be a better man. Sadly, that cliché finds its way into Under Parallel Skies. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it’s also a narrative arch we’ve seen time and time again. As the movie goes on, it becomes clear that Parin’s bad-boy behavior is made better mainly by his friendship and eventual relationship with Iris and less on his own initiative to do so. The problem is magnified by Parin’s decisions in the movie’s final act. It’s about time we move away from movies about men needing women to help them be better.
You can tell Under Parallel Skies tries to tell a special and personal story. There’s something to take from Janella and Win’s serviceable performances and message on unexpected love. But it also leans a little too close to been-there-done-that rom-com territory, which makes for a just ok movie that could have done more.
Photos courtesy of 28 Squared Studios
Continue Reading: 7 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Under Parallel Skies That Got Us Even More Hyped
