Alix explains why family dramas a welcome alternative to rom-com, horror flicks

From left: Jake Ejercito, Sylvia Sanchez and Martin del Rosario

“As soon as this is over, I’ll see you on the set again.”

This was “Coming Home” director Adolf Alix Jr.’s message to his lead actress Sylvia Sanchez, who is currently battling the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has now infec­ted over 2,000 Filipinos.

Sylvia’s husband, Art Atayde, has also tested positive for COVID-19.

“I pray for her and her husband’s continued and speedy recovery. May God heal them completely,” Adolf told Inqui­rer Entertainment on Wednesday morning.

The family drama is one of the finalists in the first Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) that was supposed to run starting April 11, but has since been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Coming Home” is Adolf’s third film fest movie. The other two, “Presa” and “Haruo,” were both screened in the MMFF’s New Wave section in 2010 and 2011, respectively. “Presa,” starring Anita Linda, bagged the best picture in the said category.

Adolf Alix Jr.

This time, Adolf’s film will be competing with Joel Lamangan’s “Isa Pang Bahaghari,” which is also a family drama. Asked for his reaction, Adolf said: “I’m happy that we will get to see two films of this particular genre. We’re so used to watching rom-coms and horror in film fests.”

Adolf added: “It’s important for us to be reminded of the values that are unique to us as Filipinos, especially now that we’re facing so many trials. Aside from problems encountered within the family, our movie also talks of the struggles of OFWs (overseas Filipino wor­kers). There are many topics that can be discussed through this genre, so it’s better to have as many family dramas as possible.”

Aside from Sylvia and Jinggoy, the film also features Edgar Allan Guzman, Martin del Rosario, Vin Abrenica, Jake Ejercito, Shaira Diaz, Janna Agoncillo and Julian Estrada as their children. “They each have different things to offer, to contribute to this project. My job as their director is to come up with the right mix from all of them; ’Di sobra, ’di kulang.”