Movie review: Mother-son bonding in MMFF New Wave’s ‘M. (Mother’s Maiden Name)’

How do you battle cancer while bidding farewell to your loved one?

This is one of the questions that Zig M. Dulay's film "M. (Mother's Maiden Name)" tries to answer, and even do so with humor.

The film is part of the Metro Manila Film Festival's New Wave category, showing until December 24 before the festival proper opens with its more mainstream entries.

It centers on Bella (Zsa Zsa Padilla), a successful lawyer who is diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. With the help of her only son (Nico Antonio)—the only one who can put up with her attitude—Bella tries every possible cure, even turning to the albularyo in her nanny's province.

Her search for a cure allows Bella to spend more time with her son. Together they deal with the country's ailing healthcare system while discovering different facets of life, death, and love.

The mother-and-son moments are the film's most bittersweet and funny scenes.

Padilla's taray-meets-comedy acting would have made her late partner, comedy king Dolphy, proud. But she truly shines in the scenes where her helplessness as a cancer patient showed.

Antonio plays it cool and natural all throughout the film, with the undertones regarding his sexuality also something to look out for.

Visually, the camerawork is sound and neat.

What makes the movie compelling is that it is not preachy, leaving some space for the audience to think. Considering that it is not an open-ended film, this is quite rare. — BM, GMA News

"M. (Mother's Maiden Name)" is part of the New Wave category of the Metro Manila Film Festival. Catch the film at SM Megamall Cinema 12 and Glorietta 4 Cinema 1. For more information including screening schedule, visit the MMFF New Wave Facebook page.