For a long time, mentioning Brillante Mendoza meant preparing for movies about poverty, gritty realism, and heavy, slow-burn themes that often require a specific dialect or considerable patience.
But Until She Remembers is a major departure from that usual directorial style.
It is likely his most accessible film to date, trading in his complex, heavy-handed approach for a simple, tender story about the search for a lost love.
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SYNOPSIS
The plot follows Angel (Barbie Forteza), a 16-year-old who feels invisible as her parents go through a separation.
She finds solace in her grandmother, Lola Concha (Charo Santos-Concio), who is terminal ill with cancer.
To take her mind off her own troubles, Angel helps Concha track down Catherine (Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo), her one true love.
Catherine was a former teacher who was violently taken from her years ago.
Can they reach her before it is too late?
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Mendoza approaches this story with sensitivity. While the central relationship is controversial, the film treats it with nuance rather than malice.
The movie also features several sensual scenes involving both the older actors and their younger counterparts, Angela Latorre and Bianca Kierulf, yet these moments feel organic and grounded, never veering into gratuitousness.
Part of what makes this work is the cast’s unwavering commitment.
Working with Mendoza is no easy task—he dispenses with traditional scripts, uses hidden cameras, and demands extensive improvisation.
Still, the actors rise to the challenge and deliver performances that more than do the material justice.
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ACTING PERFORMANCE
Barbie Forteza is brilliant.
Even though she is 28 in real life, she totally passes for an insecure, angsty 16-year-old.
Between this and her recent outstanding performances in P77 and Kontrabida Academy, she is clearly ready for the big leagues.
A Best Actress award feels all but inevitable at this point.
Charo Santos-Concio also continues to make smart, bold choices in her filmography.
Here, she handles the physicality of a dying woman with total dedication.
For her part, Boots is trying something completely new at her age.
While she focuses on establishing that deep romantic connection with Charo, it’s that risky, nearly naked scene that makes a mark.
After the screening, she laughably told the press about how she had to be past 80 to finally try something that bold.
HICCUPS
The chemistry and effort from these three leads make the movie very watchable, but the unique filming process does come with a few trade-offs.
Because there was no script, some inconsistencies pop up in the story.
There are also some baffling choices where major events get resolved in the background.
These limit the audience’s chance to fully experience those moments.
However, these flaws are not enough to ignore the film's bravery.
VERDICT
Until She Remembers discusses taboo topics at a time when discrimination is unfortunately increasing.
It is surprising to see the director deliver something so different from his long career.
Overall, it is remarkable for showing what happens when great actors fully commit to a difficult process.
The film premieres in cinemas nationwide on February 25, 2026.
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