Introduction
Among the newest Filipino dramas is Donselya, a work directed by Christopher Novabos and set to program the Philippines film industry for the year 2024. It attempts, through the film’s lead characters, to answer intricate questions surrounding one’s existential purpose, the need for acceptance, human trust and one’s dignity. The thoughts and questions that surround their purpose is what weaves the fabric of the human experience.
Donselya is a calm and thought-oriented film. It is in stark contrast to the other side of the cinematic spectrum populated by fight and action scenes. However, the plot of the film Donselya unveils the suspense and drama encapsulated in the ordinary actions and decisions people make. Although these actions may seem to hold no significance, the film captures their importance, and as a result, fosters a genre that revolves around hope for the human condition.
Plot Overview
In the cinematic world, we find a young woman Iris in the uncomfortable position of entering adulthood. The dire economic condition and the lack of opportunities make even the thought of a flourishing life seem utopian. Given these conditions, it is no surprise that a young woman would opt to marry the successful widower and gentleman, Joaquin. Although romance and love is absent in the early stages, the marriage is founded on ideals that nurture pragmatism and mutual benefit, a sensible approach. It provides stability for the woman and companionship for the man.
Initially, both characters tend to take a cautious approach towards their relationship. While Iris is thankful for the opportunity to securing her future, she also bears the burden of anticipation. Overly gentle and polite, Joaquin still bears the ugly markings of his history and is unsure of willingness to love again.
Problems surface when Iris’s history is found to have been inadequately candid. While the nuances of the situation is lacking in drama, the element of her concealment is enough to shatter their delicate trust. Was Iris’s approach genuine? This is the question that tormented Joaquin. On the other hand, Iris is tormented by shame and self disgust. She has to confront the avalanche of conscience that she is a victim of her own choices that she is forced to make.
In the later part of the story, the bond held between Iris and Joaquin is interperted as a period of deep introspection. They need to come to a conclusion whether their connection is likely to shift from an easy, contract-based relationship to a genuine one. This is a bold approach. It is anchored in the principles of empathy, deep listening, and the willingness to extend grace.
The climax does not come with a bombast; rather, there is a quiet introspection at the very heart of it. Over the course of very intimate, if not intimate, conversations and moments of silence, both Iris and Joaquin face their respective fears, their blunders, and their dreams. By the end, it is apparent that, much like the audience, the characters themselves are deeply scarred. The impact of the wound also lies in the possibility that there might still be renewal to be found within compassion and truth, however, in the end, healing will take a while.
The Major Characters
Iris, like many protagonists, is multi-faceted. She is also youthful and filled with boundless potential that must be tempered with hope. However, she is not perfect – every choice comes with her set of challenges and opportunities. Structures of rationality, of course, govern every decision she makes and every action she takes. The course she set herself is not merely to achieve stability, but also the harder to attain self-respect, honesty, and above all, determination.
It is true that Joaquin is a man of his position within the society. Appealing to almost all, the reasoning also reflects a keen insight into his character. In his marriage to Iris, he is fond of her, but there is also a practical side that is deeply personal. The moment her secret is exposed, his worldview is shattered. Trust, as it occurs to Joaquin, is rather an illusion, a mere shadow that floats above the ground. However in the end, it appears as if there has been a movement for compassion rather than the easily assumed disappointment.
Supporting Roles
Additional characters such as family, friends, and neighbors participate to enhance the plurality of the narrative. They provide insights that either contradict or support the conclusions Iris and Joaquin reach. They remind the audience that no decision is made in a vacuum; each person is part of a greater web of connections.
Themes and Lessons
- The Tension Between Survival and Integrity
An ever-present theme of the movie is the need to balance the desire to survive with the need to uphold personal principles. Iris makes pragmatic and inescapable decisions, but the movie illustrates the many threads that tie a person to one’s self and the society they belong to.
- Fragility of Trust
Trust is a fundamental element of every relationship. In Donselaya, we see how fragile trust can be and how difficult it is to re-establish. The film reminds us that there are many forms of connection and they are not all built from or rested upon honesty.
- Forgiveness and Redemption
The film portrays the other side of the coin, where forgiveness is not a simple or easy feat, but rather a conscious decision. Iris and Joaquin learn that to be truly free, one must not be burdened with the thought that mistakes will define a person for eternity. One has to be prepared to confront their own mistakes and it is then, they will experience true growth.
- Social Expectations
Both the family, the community, and society have their own and unique expectations of everybody, and this is also explored in the film. As opportunities arise, Iris is ‘forced’ and ‘dragged’ into doing things while for Joaquin, expectations are an indicator of social standing. This almost suggests how societal expectations can influence people’s decisions.
- Human Dignity
At the end of the day, Donselya is only about dignity. How can people, in very trying conditions, make choices that protect their dignity? How can they, in the first place, value one another not for their utility?
Cinematic Style
The tone of Donselya is calm, almost meditative. The cinematography chooses natural lighting and focused, intimate environments, such as people’s homes, deserted walks, and demure quiet streets, to elaborate over the absence of theatrical overtones. The film’s sullen color palette adds to this sense of dull realism, resonating the theme of personal strife and heartbreak the film explores.
The film captures the characters’ bodies and faces intensely, longing over the minutiae of their features, and allowing the audience to sink into the density of their thoughts and sentiments of which they struggle to express. The silences of the film that cut through the sparse dialogue are just as critical to the story, as they grant the audience space to ponder.
The film’s sonic atmosphere is subdued and relaxing, with the music almost representing the pain, and never overpowering the other emotions. The film revels in silence as an artistic element, allowing the stifled emotions to push through by themselves.
Strengths of the Film
Eras of Comedy – The story is engaging because of the seamless blend of humor and tragedy.
Story of Premise – A tragic and defeatist story whose premise is driven towards saying the world has lost human, moral and philosophical values.
Comedic and Relevant – A shattering performance of the cast using phenomenal dialogues, voice modulation, physicalization, and expressions.
Simple Ideology – Acceptance and the courage to face and proclaim the truth has positive vales and messages of hope.
Conclusion
The reviewer Tatiyana mentions that the film demands deeper contemplation. Unlike attention-grabbing films, the audience is required to remain passive as they follow the internal struggle of the characters and contemplate on the impact of the decisions on their self and the connections. While traversing through the lives of Iris and Joaquin, the film demonstrates the difficulty in mending broken belief, but emphasizes that the difficulty is not the end, along with the courage to confront one’s mistakes, the opponent of fear is always present.
Donselya is the film for those searching for an emotional, reflective story that serves as an important reminder of human life. It resonates with everyone who has been in the position of a challenging problem, guilt, and the search for empathy. The impact this story has is profound, and we appreciate the reminder that there is always aid accessible, and the only things that is needed are vulnerable, soothing, and kind behavior.
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