'HOLD ME CLOSE': AN UNDERRATED MOVIE THAT IS WORTH A MUCH CLOSER LOOK

'Hold Me Close' is a fairytale of sorts and a slice of life, the cinematic equivalent of an impressionist painting. It is a plot-driven movie where the two protagonists react to external occurrences over which they feel they have no control. Julia Barretto (as Lynlyn) and Carlo Aquino (Woody) play off each other excellently, exhibiting such layered and nuanced acting that is nothing short of excellent. One must watch the characters' expressions closely to truly appreciate how well-acted the film is.Those with only a superficial knowledge of films may never get what "Hold Me Close" is all about. It is a fairytale of sorts and a slice of life, the cinematic equivalent of an impressionist painting.

- By Ferdinand Topacio

Those with only a superficial knowledge of films may never get what "Hold Me Close" is all about. It is a fairytale of sorts and a slice of life, the cinematic equivalent of an impressionist painting.

Those who say it lacks deep character development also miss the point: this is a plot-driven movie where the two protagonists react to external occurrences over which they feel they have no control.

And how they react. Julia Barretto (as Lynlyn) and Carlo Aquino (Woody) play off each other excellently, exhibiting such layered and nuanced acting that is nothing short of excellent. It was sheer delight watching them throw their lines back and forth, exhibiting masterful responses to the story unfolding before them. Every inflection of the voice, every twitch of facial muscles, every pause is meaningful. It was two extremely talented people acting up a storm.

This is not to say that the characterization is unsubstantial. Woody is a wanderer impelled by a profoundly unhappy family life: his parents fought frequently, leading to the accidental shooting of his father, which fortunately was not fatal. When his father died, he left most of his fortune to Woody, which his mother deeply resented. And so he travels the world, lost and looking for "the perfect home." This leads him to Karatsu, a small town in Japan.