[T]here’s no ‘cure’ for autism; the most powerful response is love….’
The 2024 Cinemalaya film entry “Love Child” may not have won any award in the recently concluded festival, but it has captured the hearts of the moviegoers who filled up the Ayala Cinemas and even got good reviews.
Goldwin Reviews gave it a 5/5 and said, “When a film has so much love to give, it’s impossible not to love it back.
“Mahirap magpalaki ng anak dito sa Pilipinas, at lalong mas mahirap kapag may kondisyon ang bata. Hindi magiging madali ang buhay pagkatapos mong panuorin ang pelikulang ito. Pero napakalaking bagay na malaman mo na hindi ka nag-iisa. Higit pa sa impormasyon, nakapagbigay sila ng pang-unawa.
“Hindi sila naging maramot. Ibinahagi nila kung ano ang kanilang nalalaman. Buong buo nilang inalay ang kanilang mga puso. Andaming eksena kung saan mararamdaman mo ang pagmamahal. Sa kahit anong paraan na pwede nila itong ipakita, hindi nila ito ipagkakait sa’yo.
“Ang panunuod sa pelikulang ito ay katulad ng pag-aalaga sa isang bata. Hindi mo alam kung kailan ito susumpungin. Biglang tataas at bababa ang mga emosyon. Naghahalong mainstream romcom at indie drama ang atake sa mga eksena. Minsa’y matutuwa ka at minsan nama’y hindi. Ngunit ang lahat ng ito ay unti-unti mong tatanggapin. Ang mga kapintasan ay matututunan mong mahalin.”
The performance of the leads was also highly praised. “Special mention was also given “RK Bagatsing and Jane Oineza gave the best performances of their lives–and it’s all worth it. Being a real-life couple worked to their advantage. Parent or not, you’d be able to empathize with their situation. Their portrayal does not only merit major acting awards but also deserve a recognition for being the best superheroes.”
The review concluded with “‘Love Child’ is a love letter to all parents from all walks of life. It deserves a space in your mailbox and a place in your heart. Embrace it and don’t let go.”
Film director Jonathan Jurilla related how “Love Child” came about. “’Love Child’ started as a short film script for Southern Lantern’s West Visayas Film Mentoring Initiative during the pandemic. The story, inspired by my son’s autism diagnosis, was initially intended as a photo essay. After struggling to complete the project and facing ongoing challenges, I decided to develop it as an episodic narrative over 14 years. I began with a short script based on our family’s experiences.
“A workshop comment suggested the story could become a full-length film. Although lacking funds, I created the short film. When the 2024 Cinemalaya festival call for entries came, I expanded the script into a full-length version. Thus, the project evolved into a full-length film, marking a significant step in its development.”
As with many productions, “Love Child” was in need of funds in order to be made.
“While Cinemalaya provided initial funding for ‘Love Child,’ producing a quality film required more financial support. Although Southern Lantern supplied a highly skilled crew and basic equipment, but additional collaborators were needed to cover expenses. I was determined to look for more funding myself, especially that I wanted to authentically represent my region with a Hiligaynon-language film shot in Iloilo City or Negros. Unfortunately, being an unknown filmmaker in Negros with limited accolades, securing local funding proved very challenging.
“As time ran out, Regal Entertainment offered to produce the film, with conditions that it had to be in Tagalog and should appeal to a broader audience. Initially resistant, I compromised by reframing the characters as Manila-born with Negros roots. With director Arden, writer Ayu Martinez, and Angel Benjamin, we rewrote the script to be more Gen Z-friendly while maintaining Cinemalaya’s high standards. The film, now in Tagalog but set in Negros, featured real-life celebrity couple RK Bagatsing and Jane Oineza. These adjustments allowed us to successfully produce ‘Love Child’ with Regal Entertainment.”
How does Direk Jonathan feel about “Love Child” being an entry to Cinemalaya 20?
“It’s overwhelming. Being validated by the most prestigious film festival in the country feels incredibly gratifying. It also feels personally redeeming. At first, I had many doubts, constantly questioning whether I was doing the right thing or if I was just a poor filmmaker. I lacked formal training in filmmaking and often felt overlooked by filmmaking groups in my region. I had made some bad career decisions and was desperate to achieve something noteworthy before retiring. Then, suddenly, this entry propelled me into a national competition, which felt like a reassuring message: ‘Hey, you’re not entirely bad after all’.”
After Cinemalaya, Direk Jonathan hopes “the film reaches as many theaters as possible.”
“In the Philippines, there are still many misconceptions about autism. Many people view it as an illness that needs a cure. However, there’s no ‘cure’ for autism; the most powerful response is love, patience, understanding, acceptance, and support – not just from family members but also from the government and society as a whole. Autism is simply another way of being, shaped by an individual’s physical and mental capacities.
“We are also seeking to gain more attention for the film by submitting it to various festivals, both local and international, such as the Busan International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, and many others. We hope the film receives recognition from award bodies, as this would help raise awareness and increase its credibility as a genuine piece of work advocating for greater understanding and acceptance of autism.”
“Love Child” will be showing in cinemas nationwide starting August 28.
