Juan Karlos and the cast of 'Mono No Aware.' MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News
After "Meet, Greet and Bye," Juan Karlos is back on the acting pit and delivered a powerful quiet performance in the Cinepanalo movie "Mono No Aware."
Shot entirely in Japan, this film written and directed by BC Amparado tells the story of Achi (Juan Karlos), who works as a kodokushi or a death cleaner and struggles making ends meet while living in Japan and sending money back to the Philippines for his pregnant partner. He then crosses paths with a Japanese elderly widower (played by Perry Dizon), who happened to be Bisaya as well and recently lost his wife and struggles to move on with his life.
In the course of a few chitchats, beers, and exchanges of life stories, they find themselves helping each other unprecedentedly.
Dizon’s character has one final wish before he dies, and in exchange, Achi will get the money he needs for his wife and newborn child.
Juan Karlos and Dizon delivered restrained yet powerful performances, punctuated by well-timed comedic moments.
Festival-goers have been buzzing about the possible acting awards that this movie and its actors might take home, but Juan Karlos is taking it with a grain of salt.
“That’s good to hear. I have no thoughts at all, especially the people who know me, my friends, alam nila 'yan. Hindi ako mahilig sa mga ganun. It’s not because I think that I’m any better, not at all. But it’s more of like, I just never really thought about it. I never created actions surrounded that. I appreciate the acknowledgments and the nominations," her said.
Dizon added, “Marami nga ang nagsasabi na nominated kayo and contender kayo sa the best of the best, but sinasabi ko lang sa kanila na just do your job and step back.”
Dipping his fingers in film has been quite an experience and learning journey for Juan Karlos, outside his music realm.
“I feel like in general the more you do things, the more you experience new things. I don’t think you’ll ever gain anything, if you don’t do anything at all. So, the more I get myself involved in all these different things, ang daming pinag-aralan, ang dami kong natutunan. Maganda, hindi maganda, it’s part of it. It’s part of the journey,” he said.
"Mono no Aware" is part of the CinePanalo Film Festival, and screenings of the movie are available in Gateway Cineplex in Cubao, and in select Ayala Malls cinemas.