Eduardo Roy, Jr.’s Lola Igna brings us a wonderful story of the oldest woman in the world with heartfelt life lessons.
Living in a secluded hut in the middle of rice fields, Lola Igna is a foul-mouthed and stubborn woman who is eager to die. However, her neighbors are hung up on her winning the title ‘the oldest living grandmother in the world.’ In the middle of all the sudden changes in Lola Igna’s life, she meets Tim, her long lost great-great-grandson. Tim is an aspiring vlogger who wants to latch on to her now-famous grandma but ends up giving her a new reason to live.
The film is beautifully written and well balanced. It manages to tackle the issues of being alone that an old person endures—together with a sense of longingness—while pondering over the values of family and forgiveness.
It’s unusual to see this kind of film in cinemas these days as it reflects our human heart towards our grandparents. You’ll see how the actors stir up our emotions through the use of their magnificent performances and incredible timing in dialogues.
The scenes with Lola Igna (Ms. Angie Ferro) and Tim (Yves Flores) are generally relatable. It brings us back to what we all must have experienced when we were staying at our grandparents’ house. There is so much happiness between the two, especially when it is Tim’s first time to meet his grandma. From their exchanging thoughts to helping out each other in the fields, we can learn from the little, special moments of their life. Every lesson that Lola Igna tells to Tim is like a lesson for us also. It’s all about how life (and how death) becomes an essential piece of ourselves. It’s like looking into every moment that we could have with an older version of us. Director Eduardo Roy Jr. made sure that his new film would touch the heart of his audience, while maintaining a certain degree of joy.
Lola Igna gives us a chance to revisit our purpose in life: the very reason for our existence. It tells us that life is precious and that we have to be thankful for it every day. We may not know what the future would bring but living in the present is much more important. Lola Igna, as a character and a film, could help us move on from our struggles in life by simply living more and loving the people around us to the fullest.
Being sentimental, sweet, and touching, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino’s Lola Igna truly deserves to earn these awards: Best Picture, Best Actress for veteran character actress Angie Ferro, Best Screenplay, and Best Musical Score.
CinemaBravo 
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