‘Deadma Walking’

Joross Gamboa (left) and Edgar Allan Guzman in “Deadma Walking”

(We are running this guide to help moviegoers plan their holiday cinema tour. The 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) runs from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, 2018.)

Directed by Julius Alfonso; stars Joross Gamboa, Edgar Allan Guzman

Based on Eric Cabahug’s Palanca-winning screenplay of the same title, “Deadma Walking” is a comedy-drama that celebrates the life and friendship of two gay men. Cancer-stricken John (Gamboa) convinces his “beshie,” Mark (Guzman), to help him fake his death and wake, so he could hear what his loved ones have to say about him.

Joross Gamboa in “Deadma Walking”

Because of its gay characters and its subject matter (death), not a few observers compare it to “Die Beautiful.” Cabahug, however, stressed that the themes and stories the two films discuss are different.

“I see ‘Die Beautiful’ as [a story about] an individual fighting for his truth and finding his place in the world. Joross’ character doesn’t have those issues,” Cabahug explained. “It revolves around why John needed to fake his death. His parents are dead; he’s estranged from his sister; and he doesn’t have a love life. He’s sad and quite vain. There’s a void in his heart that he wants to fill.” —ALLAN POLICARPIO