Dannyka Manangan

Critics applaud ‘Only We Know’ for its quiet realism and unexpected charm

Article (news)

Jemuel Tandoc

Push Team

Star Cinema’s latest offering, Only We Know, has earned good reviews from critics, with particular praise for the film’s quiet, truthful performances and the commanding charm of leads Dingdong Dantes and Charo Santos.According to movie reviewer Goldwin Reviews, Charo shines in her role as former professor Betty, bringing a calm, captivating presence to the screen.<div> </div><div><iframe width="681" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uHPLrgurX8" title="&#x27;Only We Know&#x27; Full Trailer | Charo Santos, Dingdong Dantes" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div>“Charo Santos has a timeless glow and a commanding presence, making her onscreen appearance mesmerizing. She enunciates words with clarity, being able to highlight key themes and messages from the story,” they wrote.They also praised Dingdong Dantes, noting that you can feel the pain and emotional weight he brings to his role as a grieving widower.“All the character’s pain and burden are being carried by Dingdong Dantes. His emotional baggage is so palpable and heavy, you can feel its weight,” Goldwin Reviews added.They also lauded the film’s ending and writing, noting the intimate world the two leads created and calling the film a quiet beauty everyone should discover.“The ending statement essentially captures that place where love and understanding can meet freely. Nakabuo ng sariling mundo ang mga karakter na sila lang ang nakakaalam. Ngunit pagdating sa pelikulang ito, hindi pwedeng tayo tayo lang ang nakakaalam sa angkin nitong ganda. Ipagkalat at ipagsigawan. The beauty of this film is something everyone should know,” they mentioned.Stephanie Mayo of The Daily Tribune, on the other hand, praiseD director Irene Villamor’s choice to focus on the calm, collected scenes between her two leads.“Villamor favors restraint. She avoids conventional emotional climaxes and leans toward quieter, more delicate textures. Conversations that develop their intimacy are often inaudible, either muted or overlaid with music. We do not hear what is said, but we feel its substance. This decision avoids potentially overwrought dialogue in favor of tone and subtext, allowing us to sit with the characters in their tentative unfolding,” she wrote.She added that the slow-burn romance, rather than the usual romantic arc, felt truly magnetic.“What follows is a slow burn. Not charged with erotic tension but shaped by affection, curiosity, shared melancholy, and quiet respect. There is attraction between them, though not in the usual romantic arc. It feels magnetic rather than sexual,” she added.Meanwhile, Januar Junior Aguja of The Freeman commended the undeniable chemistry between Dingdong and Charo: “Whether viewers believe they are truly just friends or see something deeper beyond their platonic bond, there’s no denying there is chemistry between the leads, thanks to a strong script that makes the kilig moments feel earned rather than forced.”The movie review also noted how the leads handled their portrayals with realism and depth.“Santos-Concio portrays Betty with realism, care, and sensitivity that it’s no wonder she was one of the most sought-after actresses of her time before stepping behind the scenes as an executive and producer for decades, only to return to the front of the camera. A particularly poignant monologue, where Betty shares that she’s experienced &#x27;many deaths&#x27; in her life due to personal loss, solidifies how radiant an actress she is,” it mentioned.Aguja went on to commend Dingdong’s equally compelling performance: “Dantes, reuniting with Villamor after their 2018 film with Anne Curtis, &#x27;Sid and Aya: Not a Love Story,&#x27; proves himself her equal, portraying Ryan with depth beyond his grief.”Villamor was also praised for her creative choices that avoided relying on a formulaic storyline.“Villamor avoids the predictable route as well. She not only resists explicitly pairing the leads romantically in the end, but also knows when to end the story, choosing not to show how their friendship-sort-of-not-romance concludes. Instead, she leaves just enough breadcrumbs for the audience to optimistically interpret that Betty and Ryan will be okay, as a couple or not,” according to The Freeman.Only We Know is now in its second week in cinemas nationwide. The film’s international tour kicks off in Toronto, where lead actress Charo Santos will be present for special screenings and meet-and-greet sessions scheduled on June 20 and 21 at Cineplex Scarborough Town Center.

Star Cinema’s latest offering, 'Only We Know,' has earned good reviews from critics, with particular praise for the film’s quiet, truthful performances and the commanding charm of leads Dingdong Dantes and Charo Santos.

Star Cinema’s latest offering, 'Only We Know,' has earned good reviews from critics, with particular praise for the film’s quiet, truthful performances and the commanding charm of leads Dingdong Dantes and Charo Santos.