A romantic hit from an unlikely couple Kita Kita is bound to take the Filipino audiences to a surprise and the local cinema to an extent. With Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez as the headliners of the film, comedy is expected to be its selling point. Set in the beautiful backdrop of Sapporo, Japan, Kita Kita is more than just a showcase of its actors’ comedic chops backed by the location’s beautiful landscape.
Contents
Fun, charming, and sweet
De Rossi plays Lea, a tourist guide living alone in Sapporo. There she met a local whom she developed a long relationship with. Five years into their relationship and engagement, she found out that she was being cheated on. Stress at work and life resulted into her developing temporary blindness.
Pushed by all the problems and temporary disability, Lea secluded herself inside her home. That is until a fellow Filipino moved nearby and slowly crept his way into her life. Marquez and De Rossi surprisingly had a strong chemistry. Empoy’s comedic skill brought nothing new to the table but it is charming how De Rossi played along with it.
Their character’s development from total strangers to reluctant lovers was a delight to watch. The best part about the film was how everything unfolded. It immersed us into their relationship creating an effective ‘kilig’ moment.
Problematic
Everything is going well in the story until the second part. The retelling of the story from the other point of view nearly destroyed everything that the first part has established- no matter how necessary it might have been. The first half was romantic, sweet, and funny. Meanwhile, the latter was creepy, stalkerish, and downright inappropriate.
Kita Kita is not a perfect film. However, it is a beautiful Filipino film which reminds us that the local industry is still capable of creating great ones. The success of it did not rely much on the story but instead on its cast who shared a strong chemistry which resonated beyond the screen.
Director: Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo
Cast: Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez
Binge-level: 3 out of 5 stars.
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Filipino Film Invasion on Netflix! - The Little Binger
(October 31, 2018 - 4:58 am)[…] Well, there will be two less lonely people in the world. Set in Japan, this rom-com has captivated international critics and audiences alike. Tour guide Lea suffers from heartbreak and goes blind after finding out her Japanese fiancé has been cheating on her. Enter the wickedly charming Tonyo to save her from misery. Come for the movie’s witty dialogue, stay for the on-screen chemistry of lead actors Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez. Kita Kita will kilig your heart out. […]