EVERYONE KNOWS EVERY JUAN (2025) Review
Directed by Alessandra de Rossi
There are a few choices in the film that might not make sense, but that’s the thing. ‘Everyone Knows Every Juan’ is about the craziest things we do with the craziest people around us.
A one-take, one continuous shot for day and one continuous shot for night, ‘Everyone Knows Every Juan’ is ambitious in its technical choices, but upon seeing the film, you will understand, and the single-take actually adds to the film’s immersiveness. It’s like you’re a bystander, part of the individuals who are the subjects of the stories being told by the characters. Each conversation and gesture feels spontaneous, yet carefully choreographed to that following the story through the lens of the camera feels smooth and real.
While Alessandra de Rossi may be the director and center of the story, Everyone Knows Every Juan is an ensemble work. The terrific ensemble — composed of Edu Manzano, Gina Alajar, Ruby Ruiz, Joel Torre, Ronnie Lazaro, Angeli Bayani, JM de Guzman, and even Kelvin Miranda — is put together so well that their chemistry fuels the film’s dynamic storytelling. The material is difficult to interpret because of its multi-character story, but the film captures the quirks and complexities of Filipino life and relationships. It’s a tapestry of interconnected emotions and experiences, and each actor contributes a distinct layer to the narrative, making the whole film feel alive and authentic.
‘Everyone Knows Every Juan’ works because of its actors, because of its funny screenplay and because of its direction. It’s chaotically good and at times, I was impressed by how clever the humor is. The banters between the characters are smooth and I think, at times, some of the banters were ad lib or improvised. Imagine improvising during a one continuous shot, one mistake and you all start from the beginning. It is ambitious but pays off beautifully, showing the cast’s trust in one another and in de Rossi’s vision. The fluidity of their interactions and the natural rhythm of their exchanges make the film feel alive and spontaneous. Every movement, every glance, and every punchline feels organic, as if we’re witnessing real conversations unfold in real time. It’s a creative gamble that not only showcases the actors’ discipline and chemistry but also cements Everyone Knows Every Juan as one of the most daring and engaging local films in recent memory.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
‘Everyone Knows Every Juan’ is now showing in cinemas nationwide from VIVA Films and A World of Our Own. Rated R-13 by the MTRCB.