DIRECTOR JOEL LAMANGAN’s latest movie, “Tomodachi”, is a beautiful love story about a Japanese officer (Jackie Woo, who produced the movie under his own company, Global Japan Productions) and a local lass (Bela Padilla) during World War II. Written by Eric Ramos, it’s meant to be a tearjerker and the bittersweet ending will surely bring tear to your eyes, what with the wonderful and touching performance of Shin Nakamura, the actor who played the older version of Jackie Woo.
The movie’s structure reminds us of the hit Hollywood three-handkerchief weeper, “The Notebook”, as the story moves back and forth from two time frames but with the same characters. The movie opens in 1943 with a shot of Jackie about to shoot himself in the head. Then it jumps to 1995. Eddie Garcia is seen fetching at the airport his old friend, Shin. It’s their reunion after not having seen each other for 50 years.
By Mario Bautista: Showbiz Portal