Title:
- มหัศจรรย์รักกับสิ่งเล็ก Mahassajan Rakkabsingleklek
- Suddenly It's Magic
Country:
- Philippines
- Thailand
- English
- Filipino
- Ilocano (Philippine dialect)
- Thai
Cast:
- มาริโอ้ เมาเร่อ Mario Maurer
- Erich Gonzales
- Joross Gamboa
- พิมพ์ชนก ลือวิเศษไพบูลย์ Pimchanok Leuwisedpaiboon
SYNOPSIS
Popular Thai actor Marcus Hanson has broken up with actress Sririta Taylor, and their real relationship drama has become public fodder in his country.
Marcus gets an idea from his Filipino housekeeper that he can go to the Philippines and bask in anonymity there as he is not a local celebrity. Eager to get away from all his troubles, he goes to the city of Laoag in the province of Ilocos Norte, where he is planning to stay for a few days so he can think clearly about his acting career.
Marcus runs into professional baker Josephine Hermosa, also known as Joey, in a coffee shop as she delivers her baked goodies. He tries one of her cupcakes and finds that it tastes sad.
Joey is insulted with Marcus' observations, especially since she's very passionate about baking. With everything that's going wrong in her life, including family issues and relationship issues, the only thing Joey is certain of is her excellent baking skills.
Marcus and Joey had a whirlwind romance but try as they might, they had a difficult time trying to fit his real relationship into his life back in Thailand.
REVIEW
Suddenly It's Magic is an entertaining movie about star-crossed lovers from different cultures who had to let go of each other for the sake of the other person's dreams. Well, to be specific, Marcus Hanson and Josephine Hermosa, also known as Joey, went their separate ways because of Marcus' career but I'd like to think Joey's professional success and personal happiness were also a major consideration in their decision.
I wanted to like it, but I can't because of its inane use of language. Although it was certainly impressive that the film is in three languages (English, Filipino, and Thai) and a Philippine dialect (Ilocano) it seemed pointless at times.
It's just a huge deal for me that language is used for communication. When a person talks to another person, he intends to express himself and he desires to be understood.
Marcus Hanson: Yes, I'm mad! And I'm not in the mood to translate whatever I just said to you.
Of course, there should be some allowances such as for those times when we inadvertently use our native language whenever we're feeling strong emotions, and also for those times when there are words that we couldn't translate to another language. But generally, it seems rational to use a language we know in common with the person we are conversing with.
So if the only language that I know in common with a foreigner is English, my fluency or lack thereof in said language notwithstanding, I'm going to talk to him in English and maybe even rely on facial expressions and hand gestures, if and when necessary.
I found it disconcerting whenever Marcus and Joey are talking to each other in different languages that the other person couldn't understand. My mind disconnects from the movie as I note that the dialogue was translated off-screen, and then I wonder why I couldn't have that scene instead
Anyway, I had hoped that Suddenly It's Magic would be a quality movie because it's intended to be screened overseas and it has mainstream appeal, and I would have liked the audience to form positive opinions about Filipino films, and even Filipino culture at large.
To be fair, it was a satisfactory production and I wasn't majorly disappointed, but I wasn't impressed either. It was a typical local film made with foreigners in mind; with the requisite town fiestas or celebrations, and the ubiquitous usage of Filipino even when it wasn't the local dialect.
Although most Filipino (people) know Filipino (language), it is not widely spoken in the Philippines outside of Manila. As someone who only knows Filipino and no local dialect, I have extensive experience in traveling to different places in the country and feeling lost in translation. The locals would be kind and they will speak in English or Filipino to outsiders, of course. It just that if you're learning a few Filipino words to fit in better with the locals, there would be many instances wherein even your little knowledge of Filipino makes you stand out still because it is not the local dialect.
I think the movie missed out on the concept of pasalubong, a key aspect of Filipino culture. Pasalubong has an appropriate counterpart in the Japanese word おみやげ omiyage, and it can also be translated as souvenirs or more specifically, small gifts to family and friends from the place you visited such as any food delicacy, and accessories or jewelry. Joey could have helped Marcus buy some small gifts for his loved ones when they were in the Philippines, and then Marcus could have helped Joey do the same when they were in Thailand.
Suddenly It's Magic has some good dialogues, and I'm just going to list it all here. I won't expound on these as they are pretty self-explanatory.
Josephine Hermosa, also known as Joey: My mom taught me that there's no point in doing something if you don't love it, or if you're not doing it for love.
Tetz ?: Joey, the problem with you is you let your imagination run wild all the time. Even though nothing has yet happened, you're already thinking that you will fail.
Tetz ?: You shouldn't let fear prevail in your heart. If you do that, there will be no more space for love and joy. You should choose to love again. You should choose to be happy, Joey.
Marcus Hanson: The pain you have caused Joey has made her more beautiful in my eyes and it made me want to love her more; love her in a way you never could, love her in a way she should be loved.
Marcus Hanson: I'm sorry. I couldn't imagine keeping you a secret. You are too good, too beautiful, and too wonderful to be kept a secret.
Josephine Hermosa, also known as Joey: Why will you do that? Don't cancel your meeting. Your fans are already feeling hurt, the people you're meeting with may possibly get angry. Of course, I'll be the one to blame. It hurts when other people frown at you, leers at you, and curse you when you're only fault is you loved someone.
Mai ?: I didn't want you to have any regrets in your own life. I want you to seize every opportunity that comes your way because the worst thing that could happen is that you pick the love of your life over the life that you love, and you end up hating them both.
I didn't like that Marcus and Joey got back together because it seemed forced just so there's a happy ending. I prefer that they were separated, but there's that hope that they can be reunited sometime in the future. It may seem bittersweet, but it is actually a more realistic outcome of their whirlwind romance.
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Suddenly It's Magic
