One of the films entered into the Cinemalaya Film Festival, EDWARD is an interesting film that portrays not only the life of a young boy turning into a teenager but also tells the reality happening in our government-funded hospital and the public healthcare system. It's a sad story but it is the truth.

The film EDWARD is starred by two actors, one coming from being a child star and the other one is coming from a sweetums role, Louise Abuel and Ella Cruz.  We've known Louise for his role in 100 Days to Heaven, which is a TV Series. While Ella is known for some movies like Fan Boy Fan Girl and the likes.  On this movie, Ella Cruz received her Best Supporting Actress Award from Cinemalaya Film Festival. This is co-written and directed by Thop Nazareno, Young Critics Circle awardee for the 2016 Best Feature Film "Kiko Boksingero".

This October, Viva Films brings the movie "EDWARD" to the mainstream to reach more audience and see the beauty of the film. From the overcrowded, hot and stifling hospital where Edward shouldn't be, he will take everyone to a tour with the current situations of our hospital and public healthcare services. This is a no place for a teenage boy, but Edward has long been stuck in this miserable setting as he is the designated companion of his ailing father.  Learn his story and how a young boy transition in becoming a teenager.


Here are a good five (5) reasons to share why you shouldn't let this movie pass.

1. To understand and realize that movies like these are an eye-opener regarding the state and condition of our hospitals in the country. People confined in hospitals should feel comfortable and treated well but because of the lack of funding (?) and limited staff, sick individuals feel the other way around. Though there are other good public hospitals, still, the percentage of a quality public hospital is not enough to provide healthcare to a number of Filipinos. 

2. It is a coming of age movie according to Director Thop Nazareno. A young boy turning into a teenager. From his playful habits to a bit mature deeds. Something to understand and to watch the reaction of Louise Abuel having his first kiss with Ella Cruz.   

3. This movie is also for the parents, to give them a much more understanding about their growing kids, most especially the boys, as they grow older and becomes a teenager. 

4.  To capture the moment and the reaction of a turning teenager when he's turning into a more grown-up personality and experiencing the unusual far from being a little boy. 

5. This movie will let you understand that no matter how hard life is there's always the good side of it that will let you through.

Here's a brief about the movie EDWARD.  Edward treats the hospital premises as his playground. While gallivanting with his friend Renz (played by Elijah Canlas), he sees Agnes in the Emergency Room. In her terrible state, she becomes part of the harmless but naughty game Edward and Renz play -- betting on whether a patient will live or die.

When Agnes moves to the female ward, Edward is drawn to this mysterious beauty who is a bit older than him, so he starts hanging out with her. Unlike Renz who exposed him to random vices, such as drinking and smoking, Agnes opens his mind to her interesting views in life. Because of her, Edward’s days brighten up. But at night there’s nothing cheerful about sleeping under his father’s hospital bed. And it doesn’t seem like his father is being nursed back to health.


“Edward” is a coming-of-age movie which serves as a mirror image of the healthcare system and the government-funded hospitals in the Philippines. Instead of a place where the sick are supposed to feel comfortable, the movie shows how the lack of both medical staff and effective equipment actually adds burden to them and the individuals who watch over them.

Direk Thop says in an interview that he “makes films that (he himself) would like to watch.” He injects humor in his storytelling because he “doesn’t like melodramatic films that much” and that he “(aims) for realism, the truth”. According to him, “In reality, even when you’re sad, you don’t spend every minute sulking. Here, I try to see the humor in the character of a teenager—how does a child see the world as a playground?”

During the press conference, it shared by Viva Artist Ella Cruz that her character in the movie is different from her personality. With Direk Thop's guidance, it was portrayed in a naturally blunt girl who uses vulgar words.

With its meaningful narrative and wonderful actors, “Edward” deserves to be seen in the cinemas. Opens on October 2, 2019.