**Warning: This article may contain spoilers.
Sunsets were often used to symbolize 'beginning' and 'end' as well as 'birth' and 'death'.
This leads us to understand better the meaning behind the title of Carlo Enciso Catu's Cinemalaya 2018 entry "Kung paano hinihintay ang dapit-hapon (Waiting for sunset)".
(Photo courtesy of Cinemalaya 2018 via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
The film showed us the bittersweet reality of having imperfect relationships through a light and simple manner as the story narrated the lives of Teresa and Celso, an elderly unmarried but happily-in-love couple living a comfortable life together, meanwhile Bene, a sick elderly whose life is about to end while living alone in an old house as he struggles to gain a living through cockfighting and selling every antique furniture he has in his home.
Facing the painful past is surely hard to do, but the characters bravely confronted it, which was followed by forgiveness, acceptance, and love.
The camera pacing may be slow and still, but it delivered the message of the story clearly while giving the audience time to think and reflect.
Dante Rivero (Bene), Perla Bautista (Tere), and Menggie Cobarrubias (Celso) portrayed very relatable characters that will truly leave an impression to each and every viewer. Moreover, they were able to drop funny, witty, and remarkable lines.
The last scene was the very highlight of the film, which answered the title's question: "How does one wait for the sunset?" Both 'beginning' and 'end' collides on the said scene.
On Sunday, "Kung paano hinihintay ang dapit-hapon” won several awards for the Cinemalaya 2018 full-length category namely: Best Film, Netpac Jury Award, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design.