Introduction
Undergrads is a Filipino drama directed by Sigrid Polon that is set to be released in 2024. It explores the emotional odyssey as well as the deep self-identity of the two main protagonists, women. Instead of relying on the adverse drama or outside events, the film reflects on the deep self-narratives of its subjects by the use of nuance, dialogue-driven theatrical pieces, as well as art-house cinema.
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Undergrads is set against the emotional backdrops of yearning, human connection, and self-growth. It focuses on the emotional development, life choices, and the self-idealization among modern young adults.
Undergrads captures the transformative definition of love in the modern world, juxtaposing it to the aging ideals. It attempts to distill the different perspectives currently immersed in democracy and conflict.
Plot Summary
The two main characters of the story are set in a world where technology is a central focus. One of the characters, Sofia, is gentle, calm, and thoughtful: all characteristics that are superfluous in the current world. The other is Aly, a confident and vocal woman who craves attention. They both are situated in a point where self-exploration and definition of life goals is vitally important.
Aly is an exuberant and free-spirited girl that emanates positive energy from every pore of her being. The warmth of her being is an instant ray of sunshine for everyone around her, and especially for Sofia, who is shy and in the intellectual world.
As the ties of friendship deepen, Sofia must grapple with the emotions that come with their bond, slowly realizing its significance and growing importance to both her and Aly, who also recognizes the connection to the extent of realizing the smooth surface hides depths of the relationship. The film captures the warmth of this connection, not with overt or excessive expressions, but with small acts of intimacy; their intertwined fingers, their shared lingering gazes, and accompanied by the weight of their unvoiced thoughts.
The beauty of the moments is heightened by the absence of any dialog. The silence Sofia and Aly embrace speaks volumes about the age-old question of love and relationships. The film relies heavily on this absence of romance to simplify the characters and ourselves, reminding the audience that emotional acceptance is complex, and every person defines it differently.
The film is unafraid to remind the audience of their emotional acceptance, and it is this acceptance that sets the characters and their relationships with one another on a profoundly deeper level. Their bond acts as the foundation upon which Aly and Sofia build an individual sense of self, forcing them to come out the other side deeply altered.
Main Characters
Sofia
Self-contained and introspective, Sofia is a deeply intricate character who is quite reserved. While she tends to withdraw emotionally, the film goes beyond the words and shows her deep inner world through fragmented, enigmatic gestures, a heavy pause, or a lack of words during her conversations with Aly. She evolves emotionally, and her development is change of learning to accept what she feels and who she is transforming to.
Aly
Aly is friendly, dainty and has a warm personality and tends to show her emotions. She is the type of individuals who easily becomes popular, without any stress. Aly’s passion and emotional genuineness is a few of the prominent reasons Sofia is so drawn to her. She is Dynamically confident, but more than that, she is deeply caring and compassionate. Aly, much like Sofia, is in the process of self discovery.
Main Themes and Messages
- Awakening of Feelings
Undergrads explores in a rather gentle approach, the aspect of surprise that comes with feelings. Sofia and Aly, in the beginning, are neither inclined to believe that there would be depth to their friendship. The story records the gradual recognition of complex feelings and emotions, capturing the confusion and uncertainty that arises as a result. This shift in understanding is presented in a thoughtful way, capturing the reality that emotional growth comes with sustained contemplation.
- Identity and Self-Acceptance
Sofia’s struggle with self-acceptance is at the core of the film. For Sofia, self-acceptance is not about what she feels, but her unwillingness or uncertainty to confront her emotions. However, with the help of Aly, she is able to regain confidence in her self.
- The Power of Silence
Using silence and stillness strategically, as undergrads does, goes against the convention of using dramatic action in every cinematic piece. The film contains many action sequences, but only a handful of focalized moments. These focalized moments put emphasis on the silence, which invites the viewer to consider character gestures, visual contact, and mental dialogue, emotions from the absence of dialogue. Those moments of silence play a crucial role in the deep, complicated fabric of the film.
- The Complexity of Connection
Sofia and Aly’s connection is complicated. The film does not provide any simplistic ideas; rather, it depicts the deep and intricate nature of interpersonal relationships, particularly the ones that make us question our self-perception.
Cinematic Style
The visual style of Undergrads adopts a soft, somewhat blurred and unobtrusive approach to framing each image. The use of natural light and rustic settings enhances the film’s realism. The scenes occur in most of the everyday settings as classrooms, dormitories, deserted streets, and neighborhood cafés. This earthy stylization helps to anchor the narrative which in turn determines the level of audience engagement and empathy to the characters.
Close-up framing in the film becomes magical in the way of capturing the characters’ emotions, particularly in the silence. The audience often is given the space and time to actively listen to the characters as a way to allow the characters’ facial expressions, which the camera focuses on, speak instead. The pacing diverges from the contemporary, and rather rushed, pace of most films and instead slow. This intentional pacing allows space for the characters’ emotional environment to take charge of the scene.
Undergrads is accompanied and structured by light ambient music, which adds to the emotion and scene but never overtakes it. The small parts of harmonious music drjm. soundtrack and the scene, each slowly attaching themselves to one another.
Performances
Undergrads done by the two main actresses captures the emotion of the two characters and defends their positions in the story it is aimed to tell. Their bond supports the story, the emotional center of it and makes it believable. Sofia’s calm and collected character is gently yet gracefully paired with Aly’s which pops from the story. The characters are both human and relatable. Their growth and development undergoes through the audience with grace and extreme empathy.
Their additions create an warmth to the performance and allow the audience to actively roam and explore Undergrads, rather than sitting back and passively absorbing the work.
All in all, Undergrads (2024) is an emotionally charged film that stays quiet as its audience witnesses Sofia and Aly learn about self-discovery and self-connection, as well as personal growth. Self-discovery, growth, and introspecting feelings is something everyone goes through, and this film encapsulates that struggle through its characters.
The film revolves around the concept of ‘less is more’. The silence as well as the gentle emotions that the characters demonstrate are proof as to how the film is able to progress and the characters are able to express all their feelings through actions instead of words.
As the film aims to convey important themes of life, any audience is able to appreciate the film due to the fact it has an in depth concept about growing up, bravery, and listening to one’s self. The Undergrads has beautifully captured the essence of growing up and listening to one’s heart.
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