Cinemalaya 2019: 'Belle Douleur' -- Self-Love with a Transcendent Mylene Dizon

Photo Credit: Cinemalaya

Director: Joji Villanueva Alonso
Starring: Mylene Dizon, Kit Thompson

A quick exercise: Try to think of movies with a middle-aged man on the forefront and his leading lady is at least 10 years younger than him. You'll probably be able to name a lot. Now try to think of the same scenario except the actress is way older than her leading man. You'll probably be able to name a few since it's starting to become a trend. But isn't that exciting? I've been hearing and reading a lot of comments, some sound like they're even complaining, on the emerging films about middle-aged women whose appetite for love and life stays blooming. This is why, even though most of these films tackle almost the same points about life reaffirmation, I still appreciate them.

Mylene Dizon joins these women in Belle Douleur, directed by a lawyer and first-time director Joji Villanueva Alonso, about Liz, a single 45-year old child psychologist who finds herself emotionally alone in her antique-filled parents' house after her mother passed away. Through her friends' encouragement to do something fun and reckless, she pursues Josh (Kit Thompson), a young and independent antique shop owner, and together they create a special bond.

The story and the way it was presented is pretty much clear-cut, but boy, it is super fun, sexy and romantic, while staying classy. Not to mention its realistic portrayal of a relationship that their age difference makes little conflict. It helps a lot that screenwriter Therese Cayaba, known for her film Delia & Sammy, created characters that are imperfect, but likable and never toxic. We are drawn to Liz and Josh, not because of their differences, but they actually make a good couple who appears to really care for each other. The fact that they always have great sex is just the icing on the cake.

Credits to both Mylene Dizon and Kit Thompson's effective portrayal, who both are capable of providing the needed sensual nature of their characters, as adequate as their ability to be simply romantic and humane. Both were given sufficient moments to shine, and they did not disappoint. Mylene Dizon has a couple of brilliant dramatic moments, especially in the third act when Liz reflects on her relationship with herself, and her relationship with Josh. In which the film makes an earnest point about letting go and self-love.

Belle Douleur might get criticized for lacking heavy conflict and refusing to dig deeper with its story, but the way I see it, these are also the reasons why it's good and a legitimate fun watch. A personal movie that doesn't confine with the norm, and what can we do when it's based on a true story.