Rainbow's Sunset

2018 Filipino film

Ferdinand Dizon Lapuz
Joel Lamangan
Eric Ramos

Produced byHarlene BautistaStarring

Eddie Garcia
Tony Mabesa
Gloria Romero

CinematographyRain Yamson IIEdited byMai CalapardoMusic byEmerzon Texon

Production
companies

Heaven's Best Entertainment
EG Productions

Distributed bySolar Pictures

Release date

December 25, 2018 (2018-12-25)

Running time

110 minutesCountryPhilippinesLanguageFilipinoBox office₱50 million (estimated)

Rainbow's Sunset is a 2018 Filipino LGBT-themed family drama film directed by Joel Lamangan from a story and screenplay written by Eric Ramos, with Lamangan and Ferdinand Dizon Lapuz co-writing the former. Starring Eddie Garcia, Tony Mabesa, and Gloria Romero, the film revolves around an 84-year-old man who came out as gay to his family and decided to take care of a man he loved.^[1]^[2] Supporting cast includes Tirso Cruz III, Aiko Melendez, and Sunshine Dizon while Max Collins, Shido Roxas, and Ross Pesigan play the younger versions of the lead stars' characters. It was also the last movie of Eddie Garcia in his lifetime after a year he died in 2019.

Produced by Heaven's Best Entertainment and EG Productions and distributed by Solar Pictures, the film was theatrically released on December 25, 2018, as one of the official entries for the 44th Metro Manila Film Festival.^[1]

Plot

84-year-old Ramon announces to his family his decision to move to the house of his cancer-stricken lover, Fredo, to take care of him. Each of his children has his or her own troubles and victories, and so does his wife, Sylvia and he was torn between his duty on his family, and his true love. His children, who already know he is gay, are bewildered as to why he moves out and are also confused by the acceptance of his wife, Sylvia.

In flashbacks, Ramon is revealed to have been a student funded by Fredo's rich family. He falls in love with Fredo, who helps him launch his political career. In 1969, their affair is discovered by Sylvia, who accepts Fredo when he assures her that he shares his love for Ramon with those he loves.

In the present day, Ramon moves to Fredo's home to take care of him, scandalizing his adult children, who try to cover up their relationship when Ramon and Fredo show up at an event. Furious, the couple storm off. Ramon shortly dies afterwards and the children, realizing how much their relationship meant, accompany Sylvia who decides to care for Fredo in Ramon's place.

Cast

Eddie Garcia (left) and Gloria Romero (middle) play the respective roles of Ramon and Sylvia Estrella, with Max Collins (right) plays the younger Sylvia.

Main cast

Eddie Garcia as Ramoncito "Ramon" Estrella
Tony Mabesa as Alfredo "Fredo" Veneracion
Gloria Romero as Sylvia Estrella

Supporting cast

Tirso Cruz III as Emmanuel "Emman" Estrella
Aiko Melendez as Georgina "George" Estrella
Sunshine Dizon as Marife "Fe" Estrella
Max Collins as Young Sylvia
Shido Roxas as Young Ramon
Ross Pesigan as Young Fredo
Jim Pebanco as Benjamin "Ben" Cruz
Albie Casiño as Jonel
Sue Prado as Nena
Tanya Gomez as Merly
Marcus Madrigal as Andy
Adrian Cabino as Jairus
Zeke Sarmenta as Lara
Noel Comia Jr. as Rufus
Nella Marie Dizon as Bessie
Ali Forbes as Cathy

Reception

Critical reception

Ysh Cabana of The Philippine Reporter wrote "At time unwittingly funny and served with as much histrionics, the plot felt a bit superficial. While there are notable technical misgivings in the script as whole, there is potential goldmine at the end of the Rainbow."^[3]

Reception

The movie was an official entry to the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival, and bagged 11 awards, making it MMFF 2018's big winner.^[4]^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b "Rainbow's Sunset ni Direk Joel Lamangan, pasok sa MMFF 2018". Philippine Entertainment Portal. October 9, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
^ Abanilla, Clarizel (August 3, 2018). "Sunshine Dizon excited to work in new Joel Lamangan film". Retrieved August 19, 2021.
^ Cabana, Ysh (July 12, 2019). "Tenderness is fortitude – Film Review: Rainbow's Sunset (2018)". The Philippine Reporter. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
^ "TRAILER: MMFF entry Rainbow's Sunset features same-sex relationship among the elderly – PUSH.COM.PH: Your ultimate showbiz hub!". Push. October 16, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
^ Severo, Jan Milo (December 28, 2018). "'Rainbow's Sunset' big winner at 2018 MMFF awards night". Retrieved August 19, 2021.