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Billie & Emma

Palitz Reyes
Oct 28, 2018
3 min read

**I am not a professional film critique. I just write film reviews of the films that I don't want to forget and have a strong effect on me.

Billie & Emma 2018 by Samantha Lee

5/5 (Yes that's correct :] )

I've seen the film twice. The first, I was alone at Gateway Mall -- was glad and honored to have met the lead cast Gabby and Zar :) . The other was with a friend at Trinoma Mall. The very first time I saw it, I knew and I felt that I had to see it again.. and that seeing it again is not waste of my time and money. And I was right. I'm sure if this film ever crosses any micro cinemas, I promise to see it again. Nakakatuwang panuorin to. Pakiramdam ko, hindi ako makaka-get over dito agad, gaya nung napanuod ko yung "Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus" and "Changing Partners."

I'd like to commend first the technicalities of the film. The sun-kissed grading of most of the scenes in the film made me felt the same heat of the sun years ago when we were standing at the school grounds and at the non-air conditioned library we had back then. The film did achieved the 90's vibes it wants to show mainly because of the production design. From the Gimik poster, Anne Curtis & Chubi del Rosario photo, the Brick game, slumbook (I call it "Autograph" when I had one), The Jolina hair clips, the BMX bike and more. The wholeness of the production design was just really superb.

I also love the cinematography. Every shot was so powerful that the drama and the objective of a scene was delivered clearly. Especially the "Firewoman" scene -- Billie and Emma's first kiss. It was perfect.

I think Zar and Gab are the best for their roles. And obviously, you'd feel their chemistry immediately. Good thing that Direk Sam cast a queer actor for the role. It's just really different. A good different.

Billie & Emma Film brought me back to the thirteen year-old me. When I first laid eyes on my First Love. Well, some of friends told me that it was just puppy love. But it was years after when I realized that she is my first love. I could still remember the glances, the glimpse of her. The freaking secret messages on a piece of paper being passed by our best friends. The first time we sat beside each other and start regarding one another. It was that, well, almost first kissed. Our first smiles. The first time I touched her face. When I sang a song to her with my guitar. Paking tape talaga! Inaano ko ba kayo ah???!!!

What I really love about this film is that, it may look like just a simple high school love story but because of the twist it has, it was more than what people think and thought about it. The film addressed a deeper take on an LGBTQ+ film. I mean, A high school lesbian student fell in love with a pregnant girl. I remember one of the lines in the film: "Kaya mo bang maging tatay?." And it hit me. Personally, my pamangkins have no fathers to guide them and support them (except for one financially). And as they grew old, my sister, our mom and I became their parents. Literally, being a father to them too. So Yes. Kaya naming maging tatay! And there was this line when Billy was talking to her Aunt Kate about winning the singing contest and thinking of giving the prize to Emma for the baby. Then Aunt Kate said "Hindi ikaw ang Ama." I can definitely relate to that. The only thing I was relying on that time was my love for her. Whatever it takes, just to help her. Just to make her feel good and happy, I'd do it.

For me, Billie & Emma is a reminder for us, especially who are in the LGBTQ+ community that love is also for us. There'll be that 'someone' who'll look at us with a smiling face over the frowns, who would want to get close to us and think that we smell good over the avoidance, and more than the rejections, there's that someone who will accept us.

I can't wait to see more of Direk Sam's films in the future and I hope there'll be more directors who will make films for our kapatids in the LGBTQ+ community. Congrats team #BillieandEmma Apir!