Ploning (2008)

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Ploning explores the emotions of romantic longing, as manifest in the heart and life of a young woman temporarily estranged from her boyfriend. As directed by Dante Nico Garcia, the film tells of the Cuyonon girl of the title, whose beau, Tomas, left for Manila several years ago and still hasn't yet… More Ploning explores the emotions of romantic longing, as manifest in the heart and life of a young woman temporarily estranged from her boyfriend. As directed by Dante Nico Garcia, the film tells of the Cuyonon girl of the title, whose beau, Tomas, left for Manila several years ago and still hasn't yet returned. Other women in the town feel the same palpable sense of loss as Ploning, but for different reasons; the lonely Alma (Meryll Soriano) seeks companionship with the radio because her husband is far away, while Nieves (Ces Quesada) grows distraught over her son's lofty aspirations (and, presumably, the realization that he'll soon be leaving home). Much of the emptiness in Ploning's life is satisfied by her role as a surrogate mother to a young boy with a disabled biological mom. Despite her obligations in that sphere, however, Ploning clings to her dream of leaving Cuyo Island and journeying to Manila to find Tomas - and as the day of her departure approaches, news of her voyage prompts the other troubled women in the village to look inward and examine the dissatisfaction in their own lives. The deeply emotional story of Ploning is intertwined with the ballad of the same title that recurs throughout, actually a Cuyonon folk song. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi