Review of A Mother's Story (2011) by Jeffrey Q — 23 Nov 2011

The story is lacking in depth and character development, the plot is typical, and the reactions from the characters are far from the ordinary (absurd). The musical scoring is also bad. the lines in the trailer are the best lines all throughout the film, In short, if you've seen the trailer, then you've seen it all! A waste of talent for Jaime Fabregas, Beth Tamayo, Daria Ramirez, K Brosas, and all other stars in this film. I saw this movie because of the young Anna Manalastas, but even her talent was gone to waste with so little screen appearance.

Well, the story focuses on Medy (Pokwang), a loving mother who was forced to go to the US because of the family's never ending expenses, and chose to stay there as an illegal immigrant in exchange of the consistent monthly remittance to support her children's meds and schooling. At first, I felt her pain when she was starting as a part-timer, but when she became a full-time housekeeper, everything started to change. All the misfortunes she encountered in her second job were also because of her own doing. (Note the boss saying - HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, 2 sugar only in my coffee, shirts separate from socks - and she's worked for them for 5 years, so it's clear it's her fault coz she never learned, right Ms. Writer?) And how is it possible that the baby she left - now 7 years old became oh so open to her and it's like there was no gap between them? Kids don't act like that when they grew up knowing only their "lola, tatay, and tita celia"... It is not a usual reaction that the child will be more understanding than her kuya who is already an adult!

The writer could have made the dialogues a bit longer and add sense to it. I often find myself confused when I see the characters crying (oh no not again???) that I did not shed a single tear with all the supposedly "charged" moments. Even the story behind Medy's bruised hands was so shallow. "Anak, anong nangyari sa kamay mo?" --- "Nay, nadapa po ako e" could have been Medy's answer and then roll the credits! sheeeesssshhh!!! after I and my hubby watched it, we were laughing our lungs out as we walked home, because of the absurdity, shallowness and lack of common sense all throughout the film.

Don't get me wrong, I am an OFW myself, and I loved the fim "ANAK" starred by Vilma and Claudine. I cried buckets of tears for their single scene and I felt both the mother and her child. I love films that tell good stories like "Anak" -- kudos to the writer.

But "A mother's Story" - it was OKAY (although I could go on all day ranting about it) but to sum everything up, the movie promised a lot to the viewers, but it did not live up to its promise. It really could have been better...