‘Us, at the End of the Year’ proves that happy endings aren’t everything
This review contains spoilers.
Happy endings in romantic films typically end with the two leads finally falling for each other. The formula is all too familiar and predictable but also comforting. Us at the End of the Year won’t give you that type of hopeful feeling. It does the complete opposite.
The film follows a former college couple who lost touch, Isa (Emmanuelle Vera) and Sam (Nicco Manalo). Five years later, they crossed paths on a random evening in December. After their encounter, Sam’s unresolved feelings for Isa were triggered, and things slowly took a turn.
Can people just try talking properly?
If there’s anything that complicates a relationship from reel to real life, it’s the lack of communication. Sam asked Isa why she didn’t reply to him back then, and she responded with, ‘We got lost,’ leaving him more frustrated. Even if it takes a lot for someone to end things or say goodbye, it won’t hurt as much to hit them with the truth. Maybe all their what if‘s wouldn’t be such a burden if she acknowledged him properly.
Both of them had another shot in clearing things up during a short phone call on Christmas eve. However, their exchange remained unclear again since they didn’t completely talk things through. The conversation was 70% crying and 30% waiting for Isa to finish her sentence.
Instead of feeling the urge to cry along during the emotional scenes, I found myself annoyed at Sam and Isa’s answers. It was either too cliché or lacks clarity. Their dialogue had the potential to carry out the story, but the long takes just presented lines that are too mundane.
They were both in different relationships – Sam was with Anna (Anna Luna), and Isa got back together with her ex-boyfriend named Frank (Alex Vincent Medina). In the movie’s forerunner Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa, it was revealed that Sam was actually Isa’s professor, and she cheated on Frank to be with him.
Sam and Isa’s complications can be compared to a ticking time bomb that was ready to cause harm — wherein Frank and Anna were left as collateral damage. Their detrimental actions only seem harmless when someone else is paying the price.
It’s okay to put yourself first
I couldn’t find a better way to describe Frank, but he was a simp for Isa. He always put her first to the point that he believed it was his fault that she cheated on him. But his redemption followed after he pointed out that he wanted to focus on himself as an individual. The two ended up parting ways.
It’s easy to get lost in our emotions when we really like someone. Sometimes, I think we unconsciously form toxic justifications on why people we love did certain things. Yes, every relationship has its flaws, but putting them on a pedestal is a habit that we should slowly unlearn.
Second chances
I see Anna as a ticket to Sam’s second chance to love the right way. Their relationship was going smoothly — they worked at the same school, met each other’s family, shared their future plans, and there was no cheating involved. While all of those things are the bare minimum, it’s also everything that Sam didn’t get to experience with Isa.
Their almost picture-perfect connection plummeted when Anna overheard Sam’s conversation with Isa on the phone. Film Director Nestor Abrogena didn’t give her character any semblance of closure. But seeing Sam waking up alone in the bed the following day spoke louder than any explanation.
The magic should be in the characters
While many people online praised the movie, it didn’t live up to the overall hype. Every scene was visually appealing, but the film’s magic should be in the characters. There were no takeaway lines that would make the audience remember any of them.
I particularly favored the film’s soundtrack the most. Every song involved was perfect as it played on cue during the right scenes. Huling Sandali by December Avenue added the life I was trying to get out from the characters.
Some films tend to romanticize the fact that couples can get back together despite the red flags. Us at the End of the Year didn’t give its audience that false sense of hope. None of the couples remained together, but it also proves how not having happy endings is alright — and how some struggles and heartaches are not worth it to endure.
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