Ulan

Irene Emma Villamor's 2019 Filipino film follows Maya, who associates rain with bad luck. A relationship of hers has ended in every rain, and the folk tales she heard as a child fed the idea. The film gives those tales images. Rain figures from Filipino folklore enter the scenes; the narrative does not separate real events from fable and puts Maya's own interpretation on screen. Nadine Lustre leads. The tone is melancholy and the narrative promises no romantic reunion; the real subject is coming to accept oneself. The cinematography and production design stand out. Who it's for: those who like Filipino romantic drama and narratives with folkloric elements. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a linear story; the film proceeds in sections and jumps in time.