"Every day, I get to fall in love with you all over again." — Henry Roth

It was a late Sunday night when I felt the need to reward myself with something refreshing to energize me for the week ahead. It could have been a game, a book, a little indulgence, or a good meal. But for some reason, I ended up watching one of my all-time favorite romcoms—50 First Dates.

I remember how, as a child, watching Adam Sandler…

There are films that leave an imprint on your mind through the brilliance of their plot, like Nakashima’s Confessions, and those that captivate with the magnificence of their artistry, like most of Miyazaki’s Ghibli works. My Sunshine belongs to the latter.

Hiroshi Okuyama’s My Sunshine is set in a snowy prefecture and follows young Takuya’s romantic pursuit of Sakura, a skilled skater. His admiration leads him to train under Coach Arakawa—who also happens to be Sakura’s coach. As the story…

The film is a family-centered drama that skillfully blends the sport of boxing with the rich, intertwining cultures and traditions of Japan and the Philippines.

I found both the story and its execution deeply engaging and uplifting. I was fortunate to catch the film during its exclusive one-time screening at Ayala Malls Manila, where I also had the chance to witness a live interview with the cast. Considering that this is Yuki Takashi's directorial debut—in which he also stars as…

Tapping its way into my first Japanese Film Fest entry this year is Toshiro Saiga's The Dancing Okami (Lady Kaga).

Initially, I thought I’d have to skip this year’s JFF due to the frustrating online ticketing system, which never seems to work for me. But when I saw a post announcing a two-day extension with four additional screenings, I knew I had to seize the opportunity—and I’m glad I did.

To be honest, I watched this film purely for the…