Verdict: Proceed with Caution
Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.15 (17 ratings)
Genre: Drama
Director: GB Sampedro
Writers: Enrique V. Ramos, GB Sampedro
Cast: Victor Neri, Ricky Davao, Jason Abalos, Anjo Yllana, Erik Santos, Alfred Vargas, Ritz Azul, Angel Jacob, Melissa Mendez, Althea Vega, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Iwa Moto, Diana Zubiri, Sue Prado, Menggie Cobarrubias, Cris Pastor, K-La Rivera, Rhea Lim, Jace Flores, Patricia Javier, Katrina Halili, Joel Lamangan
Synopsis: Separados is a mostly bittersweet, partly comic, partly tragic saga of six men who have separated from their wives. Based on true stories, their parallel and overlapping tales are framed by a church wedding to a second wife by one of them, who grabs another chance at matrimonial bliss.
MTRCB rating: PG-13
Running time: 97 mins
Trailer:
Reviews:
3.5 Julia Allende (PEP)
“The film deals not only with physical separation of partners and its effects on men but emotional disconnection as well with people they have invested emotions in.” (Read full review)
3.5 Gelo dela Cruz (Beyond Your Five Senses)
“The film offered small bites of different flavors instead of allowing its audience to devour and enjoy a specific delicious meal. Though it would make you laugh, fall in love or in other words, be entertained, it still boils down to the question if this is the only role a film should have.” (Read full review)
3.0 Fred Hawson (ABS-CBN News)
“The unique aspect of this melodrama is that it is told completely from a male point of view, of men confiding to other men. While many would criticize it for being one-sided, I actually thought it was a refreshing change from all the usual female-driven drama stories. Director GB Sampedro has filled a long absent void for male-oriented relationship stories.” (Read full review)
3.0 Rob San Miguel (Brun Philippines)
“In an industry where male characters are mere catalysts to a women-centered narrative, it is refreshing to see a film that deals with the emotional troubles of Filipino men (minus the guns, goons and violence), although the treatment is on the superficial level.” (Read full review)
3.0 John Tawasil (Present Confusion)
“What should be the film’s strength, however, becomes its weakness: with six separate stories to tell, some are fleshed out and some are not. Some can be summarized in one short sentence because of how little plot they actually contain. This leads to a loss of focus.” (Read full review)
3.0 J. Walking
“This film, directed by GB Sampedro, could have been perfect, really. It’s unfortunate that the rawness and unaffected material had to be subjected to such a glossy treatment. Heck, forget glossy—this is a film dripping with sap.” (Read full review)
2.0 Philbert Dy (Click the City)
“The film manages to touch on a couple of interesting issues that don’t really get much play in mainstream cinema. But its insistence on its gimmicky structure and its multitude of stories means that none of these narratives threads actually go very deep.” (Read full review)
2.0 Richard Bolisay (Lilok Pelikula)
“S6parados is a pure cavalier movie, written and directed to parade the sacrifices and sufferings of men just to keep their precious dignity intact, and without a doubt only a guy can come up with that inspired title.” (Read full review)
2.0 Zig Marasigan (Rappler)
“While the film provides 6 stories from male-centric perspectives, the film trades quantity for depth.” (Read full review)
2.0 Patrixia Mai Santos (The FilmSoc Report)
“It tries to tell six stories, but it seems it’s just one story riddled with cheap humor, sweetened with overbearing music, anchored by one single event to compensate for all of their connection.” (Read full review)
2.0 Manuel Pangaruy (Tagailog Special Presents)
“Wala akong tanong sa sinseridad ng materyal bilang nasa mga balita dati na may sariling koneksyon ang direktor sa mga usaping hiwalayan. Wala rin akong kaso na multi-character din ito na pinagbuhol-buhol sa isang wedding ceremony. Ang problema ko lang sa kanya, paglabas ko ng sinehan, wala akong masyadong napulot. Walang masyadong insight.” (Read full review)
1.5 Skilty Labastilla (Pinoy Rebyu)
“Separados attempts a commentary on Pinoy masculinity by featuring stories of men in various stages of personal crises, but its understanding of gender dynamics is so out-of-whack, misogynistic even.” (Read full review)
1.5 Carl Papa (Whatever Carl)
“It is also a waste that the film had this roster of actors who I think can do good if only given the right material. Such a waste. The melodrama was overbearing. It was a collection of schmaltzy and sappy and somewhat misogynistic stories put together.” (Read full review)
1.5 Dicot Alvarado (Letterboxd)
“There is attempt to deal with some hefty topics surrounding lost affection, but it ultimately doesn’t do it quite well. The craft of the film’s overall staging is subpar and dull, mostly choosing to have its characters act in obvious and artificial manners.” (Read full review)
1.0 Vinny Tagle (Philippine Star)
“This movie, featuring interlocking tales of six men who separated from their wives, is full of over-the-top Pinoy soap opera acting, cloyingly sentimental piano music, and shoddily developed characters. And this movie isn’t just awful, it also borders on being sexist: almost all of the men’s problems stem from some character flaw from their wives. How misogynistic.” (Read full review)
1.0 Emil Hofileña (Cinemil Movie Reviews)
“There is a complete lack of subtlety in this movie but at the same time there’s no depth, so it feels like someone is constantly screaming gibberish into your ear throughout the entire movie, trying to make you feel a certain emotion, but you can’t even figure out what they’re trying to say in the first place.” (Watch video review)
1.0 Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)
“The thing with S6parados is that it is already outdated; there’s nothing about it that we have already seen before, probably even better versions of these stories. And one of the film’s faults is that it did not really present anything new for such ‘perspective’.” (Read full review)
