Episodic bursts of insightful ‘dramedic’ moments in ‘Camp Sawi’

FROM LEFT: Pressman, Muñoz, Padilla, Eigenmann and Molina

How do you mend a broken heart? For Bridgette (Bela Padilla), Gwen (Arci Muñoz), Jessica (Yassi Pressman), Joan (Kim Molina) and Clarisse (Andi Eigenmann), joining the lovelorn guests of Camp Sawi, a healing facility for the broken-hearted run by camp master Louie (Sam Milby), is the quickest way to recovery.

Their time at Camp Sawi allows the girls to mull over their dire romantic situations and pick up the pieces of their broken hearts.

But, pain isn’t something you can voluntarily shoo away or ignore at will, especially for bank teller Bridgette—who saw her 10-year relationship with her Chinoy boyfriend, Chris (Dennis Trillo), fly out the window after he chose to marry the woman he was betrothed to.

Band singer Gwen went through a similarly distressing situation when her duplicitous rock-star beau (Rico Blanco) wrote—and sang—a breakup song for her!

Joan lost the man of her dreams (Alex Medina) in a tragic accident soon after he asked for her hand in marriage.

For cheerleader Jessica, heartbreak comes in the form of the rude awakening that her swoonsome sweetheart, school jock Zack (Bret Jackson), swishes.

In fact, she caught him in flagrante delicto sharing a locker-room shower with his hunky buddy. Yes, Zack likes virile young men as much as Jessica does!

Borrowed time

Former actress Clarisse constantly pines for her busy physician-boyfriend Miguel (Tonton Gutierrez)—who just happens to be “happily” married! But, is living—and loving—on borrowed time all there is to her romantic life?

There’s fun to be had in the easygoing manner director Irene Villamor treats her film’s subject matter.  But, it’s best for viewers to manage their expectations about it because, while its fizzy rom-com froth and thoughtfully limned portrayals fascinate and amuse, the movie can’t be taken seriously.

Framed by the sparkling beauty of Bantayan Island in Cebu (captured to stunning perfection by cinematographer Tey Clamor), it’s sometimes hard to suspend disbelief that the lovely fivesome are going through terrible times because they sometimes look like they’re having too much of a good time pouring their hearts out and looking lost and forlorn.

To be fair, the feisty quintet turns in delightful performances: Assigned  the showiest roles, Bela and Arci rule the thespic roost, with idiosyncratic, heart-on-sleeve portrayals that beautifully complement Andi’s eloquent take on a mistress’ dilemma.

But, Arci should start diversifying and realize that there’s more to kookiness than the “drunken candor” and just-folks acting style she  utilizes too often as a crutch to win viewers over.

As she was in the Cinemalaya entry, “I America,” the irrepressible Bela is occasionally weighed down by her  excesses—which prevent her from delivering a truly textured characterization.

Less is more

Less is more, indeed—and we hope Bela’s future portrayals hew closer to this age-old acting dictum because, in her quiet moments, she’s just as effective.

Yassi is lovely, but she needs to learn how to utilize her excessive energy and eager-to-please attitude where they matter, because she sometimes comes off as shallow.

Kim does her best in her limited dramatic arc, but often appears like the damsels in romantic distress’  fifth wheel.

Despite its  meandering middle part, the production is leavened by episodic bursts of insightful sequences that effectively mesh the quintet’s estrogen-fuelled comedic bravado with the sobering realization that even beautiful women can get their hearts broken.

As their handsome counselor, Milby keeps them photogenic company—but, for the most part, he’s grossly underutilized in a role that is as inconsequential as the camp itself.

The facility doesn’t really do much to boost the girls’ dwindling self-esteem and sagging spirits.

More than the fragmentary but entertaining scenes of the protagonists’ slowly shifting circumstances, the film offers a tantalizing glimpse into what goes on in women’s minds as they begin to come to terms with rejection, the importance of self-preservation—and the slow but character-forming process of healing!