In one of the scenes in Her Locket, Jewel Ouyang (Rebecca Chuaunsu) breaks down in front of her parents' tomb.
Her estranged brother Magnus (Francis Mata) arrives a few moments later.
The siblings, who have spent most of their lives at odds, stand in silence, avoiding eye contact, both worn down by age and scarred by personal heartbreaks.
As Jewel departs, Magnus collapses to his knees in front of their parents' grave, sobbing uncontrollably.
The scene is as arresting as it is subtle, perfectly capturing the emotions of the movie, which has made its way to festivals across the globe, including the Festival De Cannes in France, the London East Asia International Film Festival in the United Kingdom, and the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh.
The film has also been invited to the October 2024 San Diego Film Festival.
Recently, Her Locket has earned lead actress Rebecca Chuaunsu the Best Actress awards at film festivals in Taiwan and Morocco.
Now, Her Locket is finally making its debut in the Philippines as part of the Sinag Maynila 2024 Film Festival, which runs until September 10, 2024.
Participating cinemas are Gateway Cineplex 2, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM North EDSA, SM Southmall, SM Sta. Mesa, and Market! Market!.
HER LOCKET: SYNOPSIS
Jewel (Rebecca Chuaunsu), a former actress with a rich Chinese lineage, is suffering from dementia and is in need of urgent attention.
Her lawyer son Kyle (Boo Gabunada) places an ad online looking for a caregiver for his mother.
Enter Teresa (Elora Españo), a young woman who has no professional caregiving experience, is able to convince Kyle to hire her.
While Jewel sorts through her belongings one day, she discovers an old locket containing a family photo from her youth.
This sparks a flood of memories—both joyful and painful—that succeeds in resurfacing old wounds, including a deep-seated feud with her brother Magnus, the loss of her inheritance, and the feeling of being disowned by her beloved father.
As memories from her past resurface, Jewel decides to take her brother to court.
The legal battle not only dredges up more painful memories, but also forces her to confront long-held doubts and to seek resolution to put nagging doubts to rest.
However, with dementia tightening its grip on Jewel, with its effects reemerging unpredictably, will she be able to piece together her life’s events coherently enough to secure a favorable court ruling?
And will she be able to forgive the people from her past—and even herself—and finally release the pain and find peace as she moves forward in the twilight of her life?
A TOUCHING AND RELATABLE STORY
Her Locket tells a deeply personal yet universally relatable story, transcending cultural and racial boundaries to resonate with anyone who has faced personal struggles and family conflicts.
Despite its rich references to Chinese culture—such as arranged marriages, parental influence on children’s futures, and sibling disputes over inheritance—Her Locket is distinct from the now iconic Mano Po and establishes a unique identity of its own.
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Her Locket feels warm, grounded, and balanced, striking just the right mix of humor, romance, nostalgia, and drama.
Rebecca Chuaunsu shines in the role of Jewel, portraying the character with impressive restraint and candor.
Her performance stirs deep empathy, making you want to hug and console Jewel as if she were your own mother or grandmother.
Kudos as well to all the actors who played their parts well, from Boo Gabunada as Jewel’s son to Sophie Ng as the free-spirited and rebellious young Jewel.
Special mention goes to Elora Españo for her portrayal of the charming yet deceptive Teresa. Like Jewel, Teresa is haunted by a dark past, which drives her desire to escape through cosmetic surgery.
While Jewel seeks to recover her past, Teresa seeks to escape her scarred life.
The majority of the actors in the movie are experienced theater artists, who helps the viewers immerse themselves in the characters and the story.
Major applause to the director, J.E. Tiglao (Metamorphosis), for fleshing out the story brilliantly on screen.
J.E. co-wrote the script with Maze Miranda based on a story conceptualized by Rebecca Chuaunsu.
Dementia is heartbreaking not only for the person afflicted, but also for the person's loved ones who watch as the illness slowly takes away someone they hold dear.
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Centering the theme around this creates a profound emotional connection with viewers, impacting them deeply regardless of their personal experience with dementia.
There are aspects that viewers might wish the film had explored further, such as the reason behind Jewel’s husband’s eventual fate and more glimpses into her life as a popular actress during her heyday.
However, these missing aspects are relatively minor in the grand scheme of the narrative.
Her Locket is a delightful film that wins you over more completely as the narrative unfolds in full. Engaging and relatable, it is emotional work of family drama that, strangely, leaves you feeling good.
The accolades are well-deserved.