A Journey (film)

A Journey
Promotional release poster
Directed by	RC Delos Reyes
Screenplay by	Rona Lean Sales
Story by	Erwin Blanco Rona Lean Sales
Produced by	Paolo Contis
Starring	Paolo Contis Kaye Abad Patrick Garcia
Cinematography	Tom Redoble
Edited by	Noah Tonga
Music by	Jessie Lasaten
Production companies	Filmotion Productions Mavx Productions
Distributed by	Netflix
Release date	April 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)
Running time	115 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino English

A Journey is a 2024 Philippine drama film directed by RC Delos Reyes from a story and screenplay written by Rona Lean Sales, with Erwin Blanco co-wrote the former. It stars Paolo Contis, Kaye Abad and Patrick Garcia in their comeback movie. The film features one of the Philippines' iconic rivers, located in Pagsanjan, Laguna, where Paolo, Kaye, Patrick and Desiree del Valle shoot their television teen drama series Tabing Ilog.

Plot

John is a hard-working office employee who maintains an aloof relationship with his wife Mary and son Austin. Frustrated after his boss Hermie passes him over for promotion in favor of a younger colleague, Vivian, John confronts Hermie and submits his resignation. While clearing his office, John is visited by Vivian who shares a kiss with him. The next day, John and Mary argue on their way to Austin's play over John's resignation and his fling with Vivian, which Mary learns from a video discreetly recorded by John's colleague Hannah. Distracted, John narrowly avoids hitting a pedestrian but loses control of their car, which crashes into a tree, killing Mary at exactly 3:00 pm.

Days later, an intoxicated John lashes out over his predicament at a portrait of Jesus Christ which Austin had named Lods before stumbling upon Jess, an electrician who is also nicknamed Lods and resembles Jesus. After learning that Mary had hired Lods to prepare the lights for his surprise birthday party, John invites him over to share a drink, during which Lods offers him a chance to go back in time, save Mary and fix his mistakes with one condition: someone has to die that day. John offers to do so and seals the deal with Jess. John then finds himself at Hermie's birthday party, during which he was passed over for promotion. Fixing his earlier mistakes, John tells Hermie of his acceptance of his sidelining, wards off Vivian's advances, and checks on Hannah before she can record them. John reconciles with his estranged father. He then goes to his son, giving him his blessing for Austin to pursue his passion as a pianist and take Mary out on a date.

The next morning, John argues with Mary after discovering her plans to enroll at a culinary school in Singapore accompanied by Austin, who was accepted in a music academy there, with Mary saying that she wants to pursue her dreams also. John, who feels that his efforts have been in vain with his family's departure, confronts Lods, who is preparing some lights in the yard. In response, Lods chastises him for being selfish and offers to let Mary die as originally intended, but John refuses. En route to Austin's play, John gives his blessing for her to go with Austin. At the moment of the accident, John avoids colliding with the tree, saving Mary.

While watching Austin’s play, John sees Lods in the audience and realizes that it is nearing 3:00 PM, the time Mary was supposed to have died. After going out and encountering Lods in a hallway, John pleads for his life to be spared, but finally accepts his fate after Lods assures him that his death would inspire Mary to become a successful restaurateur and Austin to become a renowned pianist who dedicates his performances to his name. Lods then allows him to go finish his son's play before dying. At the auditorium, John sees Austin dedicating his play to his parents. John prepares to greet him but is confused after Austin ignores him and runs towards the hall. Following him outside, he sees Austin hovering over his collapsed body, followed by Mary. John realizes that he is already dead and steps into a bright light leading to the afterlife.

At John's wake, Mary eulogizes him as Austin plays the piano in accordance with his final instructions. Years later, Mary and Austin lead successful lives and careers. After seeing off Austin, who now has his own family, an elderly Mary dances with John's spirit.

Cast

• Paolo Contis as Bryan
• Kaye Abad as Shane
• Patrick Garcia as Kristoffer/Tupe
• Jimmy Santos as Mr. T
• Ogie Alcasid as Himself
• Desiree del Valle as Juana Korrinne
• Malou Crisologo as Anna
• Ogie Diaz as Showbiz Reporter
• Loi Villarama as Showbiz Reporter
• Ava Mendez as Star Gomez
• Marty Marcelo as Tupe's Manager
• Emir Delos Santos as Josh
• Allan Villafuerte as Businessman
• Shailien Militante as Young Shane
• Enzo Osorio as Young Bryan
• Jeremiah Cruz as Young Tupe
• Althea Cuestas as Highschool Jane
• Peter Von Llona as Highschool Bryan

Production

The film was announced by Mavx Productions in April 2023.

The production along with Paolo Contis, Kaye Abad, Patrick Garcia and Jimmy Santos started filming in Penguin, Tasmania, Australia on July 15, 2023. They also shot in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Quezon City and Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Soundtrack

A Journey: Motion Picture Official Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Vanessa Garcia
Released	April 5, 2024
Recorded	2024
Length	3:16
Label	Mavx Productions

• The official soundtrack was released on April 5, 2024, and can be stream on Spotify and Apple Music.

Release

The film was released worldwide in Netflix on April 12, 2024.

Reception

The movie received a score of 67 out 100 from 12 reviews according to review aggregator website Kritikultura, indicating generally positive reviews.

Goldwin Reviews gave the film a rating of 4 out of 5 rating and said, Regardless of the ending, it's still the journey that counts—and this film made us feel its worth.

Suvo Pyne of High on Films gave the film 3½ stars out of 5 stars and wrote: A Journey takes some bold decisions and makes its entire story mean something else. It gives death the fearful respect it deserves. For this alone, A Journey should deserve some praise.

Lori Meek of Ready Steady Cut gave the film a rating of 3 over 5 rating and said: a movie doesn't need to have a never-before-seen synopsis to be good. And that's precisely what A Journey is. It's a touching story about three childhood friends finding meaning in their lives in the face of devastating adversity.

External links

• A Journey at IMDb