Film review: 'Her Locket'

Elora Españo and Rebecca Chuaunsu

The first few minutes of “Her Locket” is so visually appealing, I worried that this might be another of those films that starts off with a bang and ends with a fizzle. A mysterious young lady makes her way to the disco floor, the camera moving strategically to conceal her face despite her vigorous movements. The pulsating lights and the clothing were very much era-appropriate—and so were the hairstyles—giving it that much needed authenticity. 

In the present time, we are introduced to the now Chinese elderly Jewel Ouyang (Rebecca Chuaunsu) whose current caregiver has just had enough of her verbal and physical outbursts due to dementia. Jewel’s only son, Kyle (Boo Gabunada), is a lawyer who’s left with no choice but to hire a wannabe star Teresa (Elora Españo) whose only experience of caring for an elder is with her mother during her dying years. The two women form some sort of bond early on with Teresa proving quite capable of handling Jewel, who begins to trust the former and even tells stories of her younger years, commenting in Tagalog how she was just as sexy once.

Elora Españo and Boo Gabunada

Through flashbacks, we get to learn more about Jewel, who was quite the rebel during her youth, sneaking out at night to go to the disco, transferring universities without her parents’ knowledge, and falling in love with her Filipino classmate, again to her parents’ disapproval. 

The film begins to jump back and forth from the past to the present and it was only until Jewel finds a necklace with a locket containing a photo of her with her parents and her brother Magnus (Benedict Cua, Francis Mata), the story’s eventual antagonist, that we find out what caused her family to have a falling out. Jewel’s memories begin to resurface through this small keepsake, making it a vital plot device from here on out. Eventually we’d learn about Teresa’s secrets as well and why she desperately needed the caregiving job. This leads to her taking advantage of Jewel and, well, her jewelries. 

The characters in the present day then begin to make decisions that create conflict among them but the most important ones require Jewel to be mentally fit so as to seek answers once more from the past. 

Tommy Alejandrino and Sophie Ng

While the story begins to progress into familiar territory, the flashbacks actually proved more interesting and entertaining especially when showing the dynamic between young Jewel (Sophie Ng) and her boyfriend/husband Dave (Cinemalaya award-winning actor Tommy Alejandrino). We begin to see the amazing life Jewel lived and why even at a senior age, it still brings a smile to her face. 

Chuaunsu portrays the role well, the sudden outbursts not overly done and even during calm moments of remembrance, her face reflects that of her younger self. Españo holds her ground as Teresa, her quirkiness making her so enjoyable to watch on screen that you can’t hate her despite some of her questionable actions while Gabunada presents the image of a dutiful son who uses his wisdom as a young lawyer to bring closure to his mother’s decades-long story. 

Written by the director J.E. Tiglao together with Maze Miranda, the movie overall is able to safely strike a balance in telling the tale of an elderly woman whose declining mental function is making it difficult for her to hold on to her days of glory and a young lady who is trying her best to forget a terrible past. Loosely based on a real life story, “Her Locket” is clearly a well-intentioned film that shows several aspects of differing cultures in different times. But perhaps more importantly, it gives the audience a glimpse into what dementia is capable of doing and how people, including their loved ones, handle it. 

Rebecca Chuaunsu

“Her Locket” recently won eight awards at the Sinag Maynila Film Festival including Best Film, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Ensemble, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design. Prior to its Philippine premiere at the Gateway Cineplex last September 4, 2024, it was shown at Marche Du fulm – Festival De Cannes (2023) in France; London East Asia International Film Festival (2023) in the UK; 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (2024) in Bangladesh; and at the Wu Wei International Film Festival in Taiwan and at the 2023 Festival International du Film Transsaharien de Zagora in Morocco where Chuaunsu won Best Actress awards. It has also been invited to be part of the San Diego Film Festival this October.

Produced by Rebecca Chuaunsu Film Production, it is showing locally until September 10 at select SM Malls, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, and at Market Market cinemas. By Dexter R. Matilla