Third World Romance starring real-life couple Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon veers away from the usual rom-com formula featuring rich and poor antagonists. Instead, it navigates through the lens of ordinary people who struggle between love and survival.
Here are three reasons why Britney (Charlie) and Alvin’s (Carlo) love story is worth watching at the cinemas in the words of Third World Romance director Dwein Ruedas Baltazar.
1. A refreshing workplace kilig and romance. The film takes an unconventional approach by showcasing relatable characters – a street vendor (raketero) and a working-class woman (raketera) – and their love story that blossoms at the supermarket where they are employed.
At times, I grow tired of watching protagonists who are always confined to boardrooms, presenting this and that. So, my constant trigger points are jobs that I can personally relate to,” shared the director, who opted for a grocery cashier and a bagger to be at the heart of the romantic narrative presented in the film.
2. A fun take on everyday money struggles. Third World Romance zeroes in on the plight of the working class but does not romanticize their situation. Instead, the film makes it fun yet realistic.
“I’ve always wanted to create a narrative set in a mall with a saleslady as the lead because while growing up, I had cousins who worked as salesladies and they looked so beautiful, like fairies to me. Their makeup was just lipstick, and their blush-on was the eyeshadow,” Baltazar recounted.
The film also addresses the common financial struggles of the general public. “This is an opportunity to focus on the masses. How can we tell the love story of the masses if we avoid the challenges they face? So what are the adversaries of the masses? It’s money, poverty, and we won’t tiptoe around those issues,” she added.
3. A modern family setup. The film puts a modern family in the spotlight but makes it typical, with Iyah Mina playing the role of a transwoman who is also the biological dad of Alvin.
“You’ll find my characters already living in such a normal environment because as a storyteller, that’s what I want to convey – this is normal. It’s no longer a big deal,” ended Baltazar.