Like she herself put it, Ms. Rebecca Chuaunsu leafed through 32 diaries of both her parents in writing the story of the film, Her Locket.

Directed by J. E. Tiglao, the film was one of seven full-length film entries in Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2024, which played from Sept. 4 to 10 at Gateway Cinema in Cubao and select SM theaters.

Rebecca herself leads the cast, which includes Elora Espan̈o, Boo Gabunada, Sophie Ng, Benedict Cua, Tommy Alejandrino, Francis Mata, among many others.

After watching the film’s premiere Sept. 4 at Gateway, I couldn’t help but rise to cheer the cast and crew. When PR man Toots Tolentino asked me to say a few words at the talkback, I congratulated the team for having come up with a film so poignant, so moving, so heartfelt, and so true. There’s too much sincerity and detailing in the story that one couldn’t anymore distinguish between fact and fiction.  

While the film says it is based on a true story, it also flaunts a disclaimer that its story is an aggregate, a composite of several other stories. Whatever the source, Her Locket paints a universal picture of the dynamics around a Chinese family living in the Philippines from the 1970s onwards. Unwittingly, it exposes well-kept family secrets once placed under lock and key.

The film captures family members’ adherence to age-old customs and traditions broken by rebellion in the case of some, particularly, Rebecca’s effort to stand up in defense of her love for a Filipino partner.

I admitted that I was initially quizzical upon hearing that Rebecca, who is also the film’s producer, had won two best actress trophies in two foreign festivals for her work in this film.

At the 2023 Morocco International Film   Festival and most recently, on Sept. 1, at WuWei Taipei International Film Festival in Taiwan, respectively. Rebecca also won best actress at Sinag Maynila. 

But, all that changed after I watched the film.

Rebecca turns in a performance worthy of praise, one that is full of restraint and nuances. There is no effort on her part to over-act or over react to situations around her. Although she plays the lead role, she tends to downplay her presence, allowing the story to flow effortlessly.

The film’s supporting cast, composed mostly of first-timers on film, are uniformly good. They look relaxed in their scenes, behaving like seasoned actors.

Standouts, although they’re not really newcomers, are Tommy Alejandrino (Cinemalaya best actor), Elora Espan̈o, Boo Gabunada, Sophie Ng, Benedict Cua, Francis Mata.

After its participation in Sinag Maynila, Her Locket is expected to travel more parts of the world. I have a feeling that if marketed and promoted well, the film could be our answer to Thailand’s How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, that smash hit of a melodrama that stormed throughout Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. Both films feature two women in their senior years grappling with family issues.    

Her Locket is produced by Rebecca Chuaunsu Film Production in cooperation with Rebelde Films.

In capsule, it tells the story of a mature woman in the throes of dementia who remembers events of the past when she discovers a locket necklace. The flood of memories brings back how she was unfairly treated by her own family simply because she was a girl.

Rebecca earlier produced the stage musical, Binondo.