We’ve heard stories of actors becoming so absorbed in their characters that it led to significant changes, sometimes with unsettling outcomes.
To cite a few: Kate Winslet in The Reader, Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club, Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix, respectively, as the Joker in The Dark Knight and Joker, and Christian Bale in The Machinist.
In Real Life Fiction, director Paul Soriano explores the psyche of an actor and the extreme lengths he will go to in pursuit of doing justice to his role.
Playing lead roles in the movie are Piolo Pascual as Paco and Jasmine Curtis-Smith as Paula.
Joining the two are Epy Quizon as Paco's confidante and manager and filmmaker Lav Diaz as the owner of a pawnshop.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL MAZE
Paco is an actor who plans to write, direct, and star in his own film.
Embracing method acting—a technique where an actor immerses himself in a character's psyche to evoke realistic behavior in imaginary circumstances—Paco embarks on a psychological journey that begins to unravel his reality.
Meanwhile, Paula serves as Paco's muse both on and off-screen, fueling his fantasies and frustrations as she willingly plays along.
Is there a deeper reason and meaning behind Paco's motives? How does his celebrity status and lifestyle for many years influence his ideas as he pieces the story inside his head?
Real Life Fiction: The Verdict
Filmed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Life Fiction conveys a palpable sense of uncertainty that characterizes that period.
The camera shots shift from wide to tight, creating a sense of air and space that allows the viewer to breathe, only to be drawn in with a feeling of claustrophobia.
Story-wise, viewers may find the narrative confusing and disorienting at times—almost like mental calisthenics—which may be the precise effect Paul Soriano intends to bring about.
By delving into Paco's mind, the audience glimpses the inner workings of a serious actor and observes how a character can profoundly influence one’s perception of the world.
Living in a fishbowl, as celebrities do, can certainly impact how one perceives the boundary between fiction and reality.
With everyone carrying mobile phones equipped with cameras, celebrities must be more self-aware than ever about their behavior, or they risk facing public backlash and ostracism.
Paco's celebrity lifestyle, with its constant scrutiny and high expectations, may have fueled a sense of disconnection from his authentic self.
This disconnect, whether Paco is aware of it or not, may have inspired him to create a story that reflects his internal conflicts and the impact of living in the public eye.
Real Life Fiction is the kind of film where there’s much more beneath the surface.
Aside from its unconventional storyline, two notable aspects of the film are the dialogues delivered entirely in English and the daring performances by Piolo and Jasmine, which include sex scenes and nudities.
It has an R-16 rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), by the way.
Read: Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Piolo Pascual do sex scenes in latest film
Real Life Fiction isn’t the typical local film you’d find in movie theaters today, especially given the recent decline in cinema attendance. Screening it on the big screen is, in itself, a bold move.
And that’s what makes this drama thriller worth giving a shot.
Real Life Fiction is now showing exclusively at SM Cinemas nationwide.