‘Makeover #2dye4’: The little (short) film that could

Anne Gauthier Das Neves in “Makeover #2dye4”

Writer-director Santiago Larrauri’s 18-minute short film “Makeover #2dye4” expresses a lot by saying much less. Yes, the film cleverly does away with dialogue in ways that help magnify its themes even more.

That, in a nutshell, sums up the story of a once-lovely young woman named Camille Rivera (Anne Gauthier Das Neves), who struggles with depression after her bouts with a string of autoimmune disorders “disfigures” all her fabulous fairness and shatters her robust self-confidence.

But a makeover intervention gives Camille a new lease on life, brings back her joie de vivre, and even leads her into the arms of dashing young Fredric March (Nelsito Gomez, last seen in the 2021 Cinemalaya short “Out of Body”).

Is this the end of Camille’s woes? Even more interestingly, will she ride happily into the sunset with the dreamy guy who makes her heart skip a beat? And has the makeover single-handedly vanquished all her demons? No spoilers here, so you’ll have to watch the film to find out.

Semiautobiographical

During a chat last Wednesday, actress-coproducer Geraldine Tan, who is credited with this tale, told Inquirer Entertainment that “Makeover” is based on a true story.

She explained, “[It’s] my story. Because a picture paints a thousand words, this tale is told without them. The character’s struggles are based on my own struggles, as well as some of my disorders.

“While it is semiautobiographical, ‘Makeover’ is also an advocacy film promoting autoimmune disease awareness, and it turns the lens on the emotional toll it takes on the sufferer.”

“People who suffer in silence from disorders like mine hide behind a brave, even beautiful facade. The film is also a reflection on extreme makeover videos. What happens to the severely disfigured, after being Cinderella, for just one day?

How did Geraldine cross paths with the filmmaker?

“I’ve had Geraldine audition for me [as an actress] in several projects,” Larrauri recalled. “In full makeup and while in character, you wouldn’t know anything about her multiple autoimmune disorders. It shows only when she allows it.

“That inspired me to tell her story without words. We were fortunate to find two talented, young performers in Anne Gauthier Das Neves and Nelsito Gomez, who slipped into their characters seamlessly and spoke volumes without ever opening their mouths. They were perfect for breathing life into our screenplay.”

Despite the many limitations posed by the pandemic, Larrauri’s “little (short) film that could” has so far demonstrated its considerable might at film festivals around the world by reaping accolades from accolades as best short film from, among others, Venice Shorts, Beyond the Curve International Film Festival, Cloud 9 Film Awards and Medusa Film Festival.