Juan Miguel Severo’s Gaya Sa Pelicula (Like in the Movies) is a tightly written, soul baring piece of art which pierces through your heart. This is the love story between two boys. But the series deserves more than just being called a BL series. It moves you, indulges you and gives you incredible life lessons and transcends all the BL genre conventions. It is so artistic both in writing and execution and there are moments that are exhilarating.
The story unfolds when the 19-year old Karl, (played by Paoulo Panglinan) has to accommodate the boy next door Vlad (played by Ian Panglinan) into his apartment. What one might think as a cliched beginning progresses into something beautiful and refreshing the way the story is conceived.
Juan Miguel Severo’s screenplay is impeccable. But his characters are not. We don’t see the characters as heroes, instead we see them as humans. The audience are not given even a little edge to judge the characters. We see them, we feel them and we empathize with them. But we cannot judge them.
The series talks about the internal problems of the people of the LGBTQIA+ community. We are given an uninterrupted entry into the internal turmoil and the mental conflict of Karl and Vlad. But the story is essentially Karl’s and he comes of as the main protagonist. His character comes of age and develops gradually through the story.
The actors are so good and have incredible chemistry. Director J.P Habac’s way of story telling is enchanting. One of my favorite moments in the series is the meeting of Karl and Vlad after a short term separation. We see the characters dancing with joy to an upbeat music in their apartment room where they eventually share their feelings for each other.
Another praiseworthy part is the final segment in every episode. This part is what gives the audience an idea about how, slowly but gradually the characters get connected to each other, as the physical distance between them closes in until they finally become inseparable. The melody we hear in this segment is soulful. The music by Patricia Lasaten elevates both the script and the treatment of the series.
The protagonists are also passionate about films. They find solutions to their confusions and doubts through films. But their reality is far from the superficial. The very first dialogue that we hear is spoken by Karl: “Do you ever feel like you are not the protagonist of your own story?…” And that exactly is the very essence of their story and what they go through as individuals and as being part of a biased society.
Gaya Sa Pelikula is nothing short of a classic. This is one of the best love stories ever written. The series is a genuine depiction of the life of teenagers as they go through identity crisis and heartbreak and struggles their way out of it. It has an ability to move even the most judgmental minds out of their prejudices. Watching Gaya Sa Pelikula felt like a warm hug.
Arya is a curious soul and nerd who loves books and cinema. You can read her articles on Medium. You can also follow her on Instagram where she talks about her favourite books and movies.