Rhian Ramos and JM De Guzman will leave a mark in your mind — with their first team-up in a tale of how people win notwithstanding a lot of challenges that love entails—in a new romantic film, Kung Paano Siya Nawala.
Brought by TBA Studios, the outfit behind the films I’m Drunk, I Love You and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral presents a movie that tells the story of Lio (De Guzman), a shy and inclusive young guy who finds it difficult to connect with other people for he has face blindness, a cognitive disorder characterized by an inability to recognize faces, then he falls in love with Shana (Ramos), a beautiful free spirit who has a skeleton in the closet.
“I still feel nervous up until now,” JM said of his movie comeback after taking a hiatus from showbiz in 2015—his last big-screen appearance was in the 2015 drama Tandem and the 2014 romantic-comedy That Thing Called Tadhana.
JM promised to never disappear again in the spotlight, and he is thankful to many opportunities for him despite his stumble.
“’Pag ‘di ko ina-appreciate, mabilis akong bumagsak dahil wala akong pinapahalagahang bagay,” JM discerned about the cause of his past pitfall.
Asked what is unforgettable about Rhian, the actor said none is forgettable because their developed friendship and experience is one he would always treasure.
“JM is the guy version of me,” Rhian said, and for her, it is how the actor treated her during their scenes that she would never forget.
“He is very humble, after what the challenging times he was in, never mo mararamdaman sa kanya na may tinatago siya. He’s just himself,” Rhian praised the actor whom she also admires and commended his authenticity and passion for their every scene.
“Sa eksena wala siyang vanity, he just gives what the scenes require him to do,” Ramos added.
Rhian and JM had no problem with their chemistry on and off the screen as they also served as producers for the movie. It is a testament of how much they believe in the quality and the message of the movie.
“Ever since I read the script, I’ve long been dreaming of making this movie. It was a dream come true. Everything happened in the best way possible. We really became a team and a family, and pulled towards the same goal in the end,” Rhian said.
Joel Ruiz, the movie’s director, and co-writer, described Kung Paano Siya Nawala as a contemporary urban love story about letting go. This is the feature-length commercial debut of the young filmmaker—he is also well known for directing commercials, including one of the viral #KwentongJollibee mini-films.
“I met few people who claimed they were experiencing face blindness,” Ruiz said, and he used the creative license in using the mental health condition in the movie.
Also, the actors also revealed the moments when they also did not recognize faces and experiences.
“Kapag bad experience wala talaga akong maalala,” Ramos shared.
Ruiz is thankful to JM and Rhian for being part of the film, not just as the actors but as the producers as well. Soon, both JM and Rhian are seeing themselves producing movies again.
Apart from the unique love story, music is the movie’s asset to the fans. The film’s main soundtrack features an unreleased song from the popular indie band Up Dharma Down (UDD), entitled “Anino.”
Kung Paano Siya Nawala, which also stars Agot Isidro, Barbara Ruaro, and Ricky Davao, opens in cinemas nationwide on Nov. 14.
