Director Irene Villamor's Midnight Girls delivers an honest yet refreshing take on the lives of Filipino entertainers in Japan.
Veering away from the stereotype against guest relations officers (GROs), the movie brings together four women who are strengthened by sisterhood and shared resolve to not just survive but to flourish as professional entertainers at a Nagoya club.
Read: Jodi Sta. Maria shares experience working as a "hostess" in Japan
MIDNIGHT GIRLS CHARACTERS
Leading the pack is Vicky (Jodi Sta. Maria), the most senior entertainer who navigates her job with sophistication and street-smarts that land her rich and loyal clients.
She is also a single mother who has a strained relationship with her son who resents having an absentee mother.
Vicky takes under her wing the club’s youngest entertainer, Wanna (Loisa Andalio), a newbie who’s excited to learn the ropes and save enough money to send to her family in the Philippines.
Then there’s Paris (Sanya Lopez), another highly trained entertainer who charms customers with her beauty and bubbly personality.
She’s a hopeless romantic who dreams of meeting a customer who’ll fall for her and sweep her away from her job.
Saki (Jane Oineza) is the one who appears to be the most level-headed in the group and is always willing to lend a helping hand to her sisters in the club.
But she harbors a secret that keeps her from being fully free and happy.
Read: How Zyann Ambrosio's footage helped shed light on senate incident
UNDENIABLE CHEMISTRY OF CAST
Lead stars Jodi, Sanya, Loisa, and Jane prove to be a great combination in bringing to life these four lovable characters of Midnight Girls.
They've succeeded in humanizing Filipino entertainers who feel like they have no other choice but to accept the cards they are dealt with and just make the most out of their jobs to thrive in life.
Their individual sub-plots also hook viewers into wanting to know more about their struggles to better understand why they do what they do.
Jodi makes it look effortless to be a high-class entertainer who's such a pro in keeping her customers happy but manages to guard her heart well.
She can easily switch from being witty with punchlines like, "Lahat ng customers ko, quality," to the reliable drama actress that she is.
One of her memorable lines with the girls that is shown in the trailer: "Kung anu-anong pagkatao sinuot natin makalaban lang. Bawal magkasakit, bawal malungkot, bawal umasa, bawal magreklamo, basta laban."
But her most remarkable moments are her dramatic scenes with Zaijan Jaranilla, who plays as her son in the movie.
Zaijan delivers a standout performance as he conveys through a mere video call the resentment of a child with an absentee mother.
Perhaps it's such a familiar scene for OFW families that it can easily strike a chord in moviegoers' hearts.
Sanya is just as memorable with the way she naturally depicts her character's wit and carefree attitude.
But just when you thought she's just out for comic relief, she breaks out of her character in moments of vulnerability.
Jane, for her part, gives the movie an element of mystery as her character struggles with a secret that she herself has a hard time coming into terms with.
Every move she makes builds up to a plot twist that just might keep viewers guessing until the end.
Loisa keeps up with her co-stars by bringing out her character's energy and candidness so well, making the movie light and entertaining while also conveying the challenges that come with being a young Filipino entertainer.
Read: Katrina Halili clarifies relationship status with Kris Lawrence
surprising twists
Kudos to Direk Irene, who seamlessly ties these stories together, leading all four women to that moment where they realize that their profession comes with a cost—being apart from their loved ones and sacrificing their personal happiness for the sake of higher pay.
Without judging their choices, she focuses on highlighting the heart in each character to tell an OFW's story of survival.
Then she interjects interviews with real-life Pinay entertainers, making the whole movie experience authentic, relatable, and heart-tugging.
What makes the movie a must-watch is that it mixes just the right amount of comedy and drama with unexpected twists to keep moviegoers entertained from start to end.
Produced by TJAV Productions and distributed by Warner Bros., Midnight Girls is still showing in cinemas.