“Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” (YTT) is a drama film produced by Lily Monteverde and directed by Rodolfo “Jun” Lana. It stars Maricel Soriano (as Mariel Montess), one of the Philippines’ finest actresses, and Gabby Concepcion (as Garry). Also included in the cast are Jericho Rosales, Dennis Trillo, Carla Abellana, Lovi Poe, Solenn Heusaff, Ronaldo Valdez, Agot Isidro, Paulo Avelino, and Eula Caballero.
The opening scene of YTT, in which Joem Bascon and Nadine Samonte play cameo roles, will move you so quickly that you will realize you are watching a good film, one that will help you understand life and love. By showing a familiar-sounding yet excellent quote on the screen at the outset, the film immediately gives the relationship between “yesterday” and “today,” and sets the viewers anticipating a remarkable story and good acting. (“Let go of yesterday and love will find its way back to you.”)
As a movie dealing with the causes and effects of family relationship problems, the strength of YTT is its sensitivity for the feelings of the viewers — that is, it lets them see the causes of these problems without showing bias against any member of a family. It is clear from the start that the characters have these problems, and the film shows how they affect each of them. They tell their own side of the story, and their feelings about their situations as family members, giving the viewers a clear understanding of their responsibilities as members of their own families.
Rodolfo “Jun” Lana, the director of the film, says, “It’s about what happens to a family when faced with a tragedy and how it changes each and every member and how they deal with that tragedy that befalls them (PeP).” With regard to cinematography, the tragedy looks real and I liked it a lot. It seems, however, that the following scenes showing the suffering and grief that are commonly felt by victims of such a disastrous earthquake lack intensity a little bit to make it more realistic. While I saw the entire result of the tragedy, it did not move me that much at first.
Then again, considering that the story revolves around the lives of the characters, and the tragedy is just a part of them, the quality of the film has not been affected by it to a large degree. After all, the characters already have relationship problems, although not yet full-blown to some of them, before the said disaster strikes. This part, however, is where the film starts to show them facing the litmus test of the strength of their love and relationships (which the movie trailer implies).
It appears that the filmmakers of YTT chose well who should be part of it. Some of Maricel Soriano’s best scenes are a bit short, but because of her excellent acting, I still found them great. Most of the cast of this film, and not just Maricel Soriano, are very good. Their acting and the good dialogues are what will hold your attention.
Also, it will not come as a surprise to me if those who have seen this movie have been pleased with Lovi Poe’s beautiful rendition of Ogie Alcasid’s hit songs including “Kung Mawawala Ka.” In this movie, her singing in a bar is the cause of disagreement between her husband and her, but you will appreciate that it is part of it. You might wish these scenes were longer, in fact.
“Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” is a film that lets the people see the potential problems in their relationships, and the right way of resolving past and present conflicts. The reason why it is worthwhile to know them can be inferred from the next quote shown on the screen. (“Remember today, for it is the beginning of always.”)