After watching "Unspoken Letters,"  one can only say that  Jhassy Busran holds a lot of promise regarding her acting career. 

In the movie, which opens on Dec. 13, Jhassy portrays the role of Felipa, a young woman who suffers from autism. Her performance shines side-by-side with other veteran actors in the industry, such as Gladys Reyes, Tonton Gutierrez, Glydel Mercado. Matet De Leon, Simon Ibarra, Orlando Sol, Daria Ramirez, and Deborah Sun.

The producer, Utmost Creatives, aimed to have the movie shown during the Metro Manila Film Festival, but it was not able to get the nod of the judges. The 17-year-old Jhassy views this seeming "failure" with positivity. " Nag-close man ang door sa amin ng MMFF, I know mas madaming door ang magbubukas para sa amin. Nakakaiyak, ang daming tao noong premiere night. It was so overwhelming and unexpected."

Having played mostly girl-next-door roles in the past, how was it playing someone with mental impairment? Jhassy admitted that " it was really very hard. Natatakot talaga ako na baka me mali akong magawa or hindi dapat maipakita, kaya kailangan ko talaga tutukan ang role ko."

(I was afraid of doing anything wrong or showing what was inappropriate, so I had to concentrate on my role.)

"Thankfully, my experienced co-stars were very supportive and there to guide me every step of the way," Jhassy said.

Being a family drama, the confrontation scenes in "Unspoken Letters"  are a must-see. In one scene,  Gladys, as the older sister Mariel, lays her hand on the innocent Felipa. The primera contravida almost faltered doing it because she was thinking of her sibling with autism.

"Kahit gaano kakulit yung kapatid kong bunso, hinding-hindi ko maatim talaga na saktan sya. Kaya noong ginawa naming ni Jhassy ang sampalan na eksena, naiyak ako kasi parang tunay na kapatid ko ang sinaktan ko," Gladys remarked.

(No matter how naughty my youngest sibling gets, I can never hurt him. That's why when Jassy and I were doing our scene, I almost cried because I imagined I was hurting my real sibling.)

"Ito ang maganda sa pelikula kasi magkakaroon ng awareness ang mga tao how to handle people with special disabilities," Gladys noted.

(This is what's nice about the movie. People will learn or have awareness of how to handle people with special disabilities.)

About the movie

Jhassy's portrayal of Felipa as someone oblivious to the simmering tensions and unresolved issues within her family is up to par. There's a scene where she tries to pawn off her siblings' gold medals, thinking they were real gold. Everyone's angry reactions showed how quickly they lashed out at their vulnerable sister.

The story revolves around the Benitez family coming together for their parent's wedding anniversary and father's 70th birthday. Simon Ibarra is Tatay Conrado.  Orlando Sol as Armand faces financial trouble. Gladys, as Mariel, is a doctor with two kids. 

Tonton's character, Nestor, harbors resentment against their father for being harsh and uncaring during their childhood. In one scene, he visits his mother's grave and releases decades of pent-up hurt and anger.

In the end, a letter left behind by their mother reveals the truth behind their father's absence during their growing up years and helps to heal old wounds.

Portraying a character with a disability in a nuanced way is an immense challenge for any actor. Jhassy as Felipa rises to the occasion, and her moving characterization provides the film's emotional center.

Ultimately, her character represents hope. A light in the darkness directs her family towards healing and connection, Despite the mental challenges she faces, Felipa maintains an innocence and purity of spirit that the others have lost. She is the family's heart, and her child-like nature brings them together to discover the love and happiness they once shared. 

"Unspoken Letters" is written and directed by Mario Alaman, with Paolo Bertola as the second director.