It’s not new that award-winning filmmaker Brillante Ma Mendoza has a different style in shooting his films. “No script” will always be mentioned when artists and film crews talk about him. While it’s not the usual practice, not just in the Philippines, but all over the world, his approach has somehow become more effective in bringing out the best from the artists, but that depends on whether the artist is really good. (Sometimes you can tell).
But in his latest work, a rather soft and warm film, far different from what he usually directs, ‘Until She Remembers’ works because of how good its stars are, namely Charo Santos-Concio, Barbie Forteza and Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo. And with his “no script” filmmaking style, the story can evolve into something more, depending on how the cast interprets their characters.
After the red carpet premiere screening of their film, the cast and director obliged the audience with a question-and-answer session. Below are some of their answers:
What made Charo Santos-Concio and Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo say yes to doing the project?
Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo: “At 81, hindi ko dapat pakawalan ang ganitong oportunidad na, unang-una, mag-portray ng ganitong role, makasama si Direk Brillante Mendoza at, of course, makasama ang my dear friend, Charo, na mahigit fifty years na kaming magkakilala, pero ngayon lang kami nagkasama sa isang pelikula. All these years, we had meetings of the heart and the mind, ang shooting nito, kapag nabigyan na kami ng direksyon ni direk Brillante, hindi namin pag-uusapan kung paano namin aatakihin ang eksena, hindi namin pinag-uusapan kung paano ang approach, we just felt it in our hearts and there we were with the execution.”
Charo Santos-Concio: “And just to add to that, hindi din namin pinag-usapan na magpi-pink kami (audience laughs). So, ganun ‘yung experience namin dito sa pelikulang ito – fullfillment ito para sa akin na makasama si tita Boots sa pelikula, of course to be directed by direk Brillante, matagal na kami nag-uusap, ngayon lang natuloy, at napaka-ganda ng experience working with direk na merong kwento pero gusto niya very raw ‘yung emotions sa set. Ayaw niyang dadating ka na may makeup, kailangan dalhin mo lang sarili mo, and don’t think about the camera, the blocking, go where your heart brings you – ‘yan ang laging sinasabi ni direk Brillante. Of course, hindi ko pakakawalan ‘yung challenge na makagawa ng ganitong klaseng karakter sa filmography ko.”
Why is Charo and Boots the perfect couple for ‘Until She Remembers’?
Brillante Mendoza: “Parang tailor-made talaga sa kanila. May mga discussions kami before na projects pero parang hindi swak, and I also produced a film before na andun si Ma’am Boots pero hindi talaga nag-swak. Siguro timing lang talaga and I think it’s the perfect project for both of them.”
Since Brillante Mendoza’s style of filmmaking is “no-script,” how did the story evolve as the shoot progress as per the interpretation of the characters?
Brillante Mendoza: “Actually, merong script, merong sinusundan na structure, nabuo ko na ‘yan bago mag-shooting, hindi ko lang shine-share sa kanila. Selfish ako, eh (Brillante laughs). Kasi gusto ko din ma-discover sa kanila ‘yung kanilang naging interpretation, so meron akong structure ng kwento, pero sa kanila, as characters, they have to develop themselves since mas magaling sila doon kasi artista sila and mas nararamdaman nila ‘yung characters, mas nagiging three-dimensional. As for me, meron akong ibang perception, pero as a writer and director, meron akong ibang nakikita pero I trust them kaya mas pinili kong hindi i-share sa kanila ang buong kwento, and I let them discover their characters and the story as we progress.”
What did Charo, Barbie and Ms. Boots discover with their characters as the filming progressed?
Charo: “Ako? Talagang malalim ang pagmamahal ko kay Catherine. Talagang gagawin ko ang lahat para ipakita ‘yung pagmamahal na ‘yun, para iparamdam ‘yung pagmamahal na ‘yun dahil pinagkait sa akin ‘yun ng aking mga magulang ng sosyedad nung kabataan namin where same-sex relationships were frowned upon, so nung nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na magpakatotoo, talagang puso, diwa, lahat, ‘yung lalim ng pagmamahal, binigay ko kay Catherine. ‘Yun ang depth ng pagkakaintindi at pagkakakilala ko kay Concha.”
Boots: “Maganda ‘yung sinabi ng mga kabataan na kasama natin, na love has no labels, love has no boundaries. Walang sini-sino, napakarami ng lebel ng pagmamahal na pinakita dito, pero what came to mind was the loftiest level of love, which is the agape love. Hindi ba tinuturuan tayo na ‘yung Agape love, ‘yung binibigay sa atin ng nasa kataas-tasaan, ‘yan ‘yung walang kondisyon, walang hinihintay, forgiving, giving, and I’m so glad that even without labeling such, si direk Brillante ay pinadama sa atin ang ganitong klaseng pagmamahal through sa characters especially the character of Concha, talagang masasabi niya na binigay niya nang husto ang kanyang pagmamahal. I want to invoke the young people’s consciousness kasi ang akala ng marami dahil mga adults kami ay pang-matanda ito, but we have Barbie, the story is told from the point of view of a high school girl. So, pang-Gen Z po itong pelikulang ito.”
Barbie: “Ako naman, ang natutunan ng character ni Angel tungkol sa pagmamahal na, it’s so powerful that it can forgive. Kasi sa dulo, pinili niyang patawarin ang mga magulang niya, she chose to look at the bigger picture and she was happy for the both of them, having new partners, in-accept niyang lahat ‘yon kahit siyempre may konting lungkot kasi nga, broken family na, pero she chose to forgive. Pero nakita niya na love knows no boundaries, no age, no gender, so ‘yun ‘yung feeling kong naging mas deeper understanding ng character ko kaya in-accept niya ‘yung sarili niya, in-accept niya ‘yung parents niya, the situation at punong-puno siya ng pagmamahal.”
‘Until She Remembers’ opens in cinemas February 25, 2026 from Solar Studios, Inc. and Center Stage Productions. Rated PG by the MTRCB.