Northern Lights: A Journey to Love (2017) Movie Review | Philippines |Tagalog

Northern Lights: A Journey to Love

Star : Piolo Pascual, Yen Santos, Raikko Mateo, Joel Torre, Sandy Andolong, Tirso Cruz III

Country : Philippines

Genre : Drama

Production Co : Star Cinema – ABS-CBN Film Productions, Spring Films, Regal Entertainment

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Northern Lights: A Journey to Love is a 2017 Filipino drama film directed by Dondon S. Santos and written by Onay Sales that stars Piolo Pascual, Yen Santos, and Raikko Mateo. The film is a collaboration between Regal Entertainment, Star Cinema, and Spring Films. The film's executive producers were Lily Monteverde, Roselle Monteverde, Charo Santos-Concio, Malou Santos, Piolo Pascual, Joyce Bernal, and Erickson Raymundo.

The film was released on March 29, 2017.

Charlie Sr. (Piolo Pascual) is a Filipino immigrant in Alaska who is living a carefree life. His life suddenly changes when he is tasked to take care of his estranged son, Charlie Jr. (Raikko Mateo), whom he had left behind in the Philippines. As he struggles to become a real father to his son, Charlie crosses paths with Angel (Yen Santos), a quirky Filipina who went to Alaska to find her lost mother. 

Before you head to theaters to see it, here are a few things about the movie you need to know. 

1. The movie was originally called Once In A Lifetime, but it was eventually changed to Northern Lights.

"We really wanted [the title] Northern Lights because it speaks a lot about the whole milieu in the story of the film," Piolo said. "Pero iyon nga po, dahil hindi nga nagkasundo sa title. You're talking about 3 productions that had to agree on kung ano yung may mas punch na title, so we all agreed na mas maganda gamitin yung Northern Lights."

(But yeah, we couldn't agree on the title. You're talking about 3 productions that had to agree on a title that had more of a punch, so we all agreed that it would be better to use Northern Lights.)

The movie was produced by 3 production companines: Spring Films, Star Cinema, and Regal Entertainment. 

2. The film was shot in New Zealand and Alaska.

The cast and crew went to New Zealand to film a big part of the movie. Director Dondon Santos, meanwhile, went to Alaska to shoot some additional footage to capture the tituar northern lights, as it was summer in Alaska when they started to film.

3. This is Yen's first movie and the first time Piolo and Yen have teamed up.

In an interview after the press conference on March 1, Piolo said he enjoyed working with Yen. 

"Yen [is] refreshing. This is her first film," said Piolo. Yen's previous projects have been TV shows like Magpahanggang Wakas and Pure Love. Yen gained attention after appearing on Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash in 2010.

"Na-draw ako sa energy niya, sa excitement niya, yung pag-anticipate niya doon sa mga eksena niya. Nag-enjoy ako. Syempre, being in the business for quite sometime already, naghahanap ka din ng inspiration. So she’s one of my inspirations," he said.

(I was drawn into her energy, her excitement, her anticipation of her scenes. I enjoyed it. Of course, being in the business for some time already, you look for inspiration. So she's one of my inspirations.)

Yen, on the other hand, said she couldn't help but feel "kilig" about being paired up with Piolo. At the press conference, she was even laughed when asked what she felt about being paired up with Piolo.

"Quotang-quota na po ako. Tapos na yung laban," she joked.

"Sobrang thankful ako and naniniwala po naman ako na everything happens for a reason, kung bakit po ako yung napili. Siguro ang makakasagot niyan si direk [Dondon Santos]," she said.

(I'm really thankful and I believe everything happens for a reason, when it comes to why I was chosen. I guess the one who can answer that would be director [Dondon Santos].)

4. The movie's plot was inspired by father-son relationships.

On March 20, Piolo was asked if he could relate to the storyline, since he didn't live with his son Iñigo for a long time. Now at 19 years old, Iñigo is following in his dad's footsteps in showbiz.

Piolo said the film was very close to his heart because he and Iñigo went through some of the issues tackled in the film.

"It was so close to home because ayoko gamitin yung anak ko for promo. Ayoko magkaroon ako ng conflict with my real son... Hindi lang naman ako yung nakaranas ng ganitong experience, but I'm sure a lot of fathers, or mothers for that matter, would not want to be in my shoes, to experience something like this. Mahirap, pero iyon yung sinasalamin ng pelikula and you have to cope with that and you have to deal with a conflict like this, na mas mahirap pa, especially napanood nila, nalaman na nila bakit pumunta yung bata sa Alaska," he said. 

(It was so close to home because I really don't want to use my son for promotions. I don't want to have conflict with my real son... I'm not the only one who went through this kind of experience, but I'm sure a lot of fathers, or mothers for that matter, would not want to be in my shoes, to experience something like this. It's hard but the movie mirrors that, and you have to cope with that and you have to deal wth a conflict like this, which is even more difficult, especially when they watch, they already know why the kid went to Alaska.)