Cinemalaya 2018: 'Kuya Wes' Teaches Us a Thing or Two About Love and Depression

Ogie Alcasid as Kuya Wes; Photo Credit: Cinemalaya

Director: James Mayo
Cast: Ogie Alcasid, Ina Raymundo, Moi Bien, Alex Medina, Karen Gaerlan

This seems like this year's light-hearted hugot film if we solely base our judgements on its cheerful posters, teasers, and marketing ads. No one would predict that James Robin Mayo's sophomore film Kuya Wes is one of this year's darkest entries. And it doesn't involve death, or blood, or gore. It tackles something deeper, and closer to home. I commend this year's Cinemalaya entries for its diverse themes, and Kuya Wes has one of my favorites, and definitely needs to be told more.

Kuya Wes is about a timid and earnest remittance clerk played by Ogie Alcasid, who falls for his customer named Erika (Ina Raymundo). Often taken advantage by his brother's family and his customers, Kuya Wes reaches rock bottom.

As comedic as this was, it might be a hard watch for some. Watching a guy being taken for granted by almost every character in the film is as painful as it could get, especially when he also has no one to count on... at least at first. Thanks to Moi Bien's character for changing that. As a matter of fact, she's the only one who eventually sees Wes' worth. She's the much needed friend Wes can rely on when he needs advice and confidence to face the world.

Ogie Alcasid and Moi Bien's duo is absorbing, and here they do comedy with humor, wit and most especially, heart. Ogie's Wes is nothing short of funny, yet he'll break hearts in the end. Moi Bien, on the other hand, has never been this good and natural. Definitely a level up from her naive yaya role in last year's Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha.

James Robin Mayo's light treatment of a dark subject is impressive, often disguising its darkness with relaxing music and cheerful colors. This method creates an intensified climax that involves Kuya Wes walking on the streets livid, eventually breaking down along with the fourth wall, and one can't help but feel for him.

I wish its underlying theme of depression is further explored as it might be too subtle to teach its audience how to deal with someone who’s struggling with it. Good thing is it ends on a high note, leaving hope for anyone who's been taken advantage of, teaching us that we all deserve love, and we must stand up for it.