Irene Villamor on realistic endings in love stories: 'Minsan kasi, gustong-gusto rin naman ng mga tao 'yung masaktan'

Filmmaker Irene Villamor is best known for her realistic, flawed, and layered characters, with stories based on their personal journeys.

Her films "Five Breakups and a Romance," "Camp Sawi," "Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story," and "Meet Me in St. Gallen," among many others, may be fictional, but they tackle the real problems of real people.

In her guesting on "Share Ko Lang," hosted by Dr. Anna Tuazon, Direk Irene talked more about her "ideas-centric" concepts and "character studies" in her anti-romance movies.

"Anti-romance romance, kasi madalas, hindi sila magkatuluyan," she said. "It's still romance, pero parang may mas pu-pull back kumbaga."

Instead of featuring the traditional love teams and their stories, the anti-romance genre "depends on what moves sa mga tao at a present time."

"Mas nagiging realistic na rin ngayon 'yung mga love story. 'Di ba parang, dati, typical 'yung mga grand gesture, habulan sa airport, 'di ba, tapos mag-de-declare ng love," she said. "So ngayon, hindi na siya ganon. Mas naka-root na sa kung ano 'yung nangyayari in real life."

Direk Irene shared that "Meet Me in St. Gallen" was originally shot with the characters ending up together in Switzerland. However, after a focus group discussion with the producers, the majority of them said that "mas maganda na hindi sila magkatuluyan."

Direk Irene said, "Minsan kasi, gustong-gusto rin naman ng mga tao 'yung masaktan."

Direk Irene and Doc Anna agreed that most audiences would prefer happy stories in movies as "escapist tendencies" from their real-life problems. But anti-romance flicks also provide various relatable moments for the audience, as these are more realistic and make them feel that they are not alone.

"Gusto [ng audience] na maka-relate sa kanila, but somehow, it can have a different experience, these characters," Irene said.

"Parang, kung 'di ko pa 'to na-e-experience, kung 'di pa 'ko na-i-in love, ma-i-in love ako with them. Or kung hindi pa 'ko heartbroken, naha-heartbreak ako sa kanila. Or 'pag heartbroken naman ako at nakikita kong heartbroken 'yung mga characters, relate na relate, iyak nang iyak ka naman sa sinehan."

Direk Irene's characters also move away from the traditional Filipino leads who are perfect, family-oriented, wholesome, and innocent.

"Naisip ko kaya siguro ako anti-romance, kasi ang flawed ng mga characters ko," she said. "Usually, 'yung mga Filipino rom-coms na nakasanayan natin, they're really perfect beings. Para silang—'di ba mahal nila 'yung pamilya nila pareho, parang pag-aawayan nila, nagseselos ako diyan. Ganon 'yung mga nakasanayang romance movies, mga kinalakhan," she said.

"Medyo complicated 'yung mga relationship nung mga love stories na nasusulat ko," she added.

Direk Irene said that although the complicated storylines and characters do not have the answers to people's problems, it does start a discussion on relationships.

"Those movies are not providing answers, for me. Hindi sila sagot talaga," she said. "But at least, meron kang [pagiisip na] saan puwedeng dalhin," she said.

—Nika Roque/MGP, GMA Integrated News