‘I’mPerfect’ spotlights romance of people with Down syndrome
The announcement of the second batch of entries to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) saw celebrities gracing the red carpet and young talents ramping up the volume and energy at the University of Makati Performing Arts Theater.
But while they brought star power and plenty of kilig to the event, it was the cast of “I’mPerfect”—a romance drama top-billed by two people with Down syndrome—that warmed and ultimately won everyone’s hearts.
Upon unveiling that their project had secured one of the eight spots in the annual showbiz event, lead stars Krystel Go and Earl Amaba, together with their co-actors and producers, made their way onstage in giddy excitement—dancing, pumping their fists, and hugging each other. The crowd dissolved in a chorus of cheers and awws.
“Maraming salamat po sa pagtitiwala!” Go tells the crowd
“Thank you for giving us a chance,” adds Amaba, who also posted on Facebook that he’s “proud to be the lead male actor in this huge, heartfelt movie.”
Years of waiting
Written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, the film follows Jessica (played by Go) and Jiro (Amaba)—two people with Down syndrome who “meet, fall in love, and discover the true meaning of freedom and acceptance.” As they face life’s challenges, their bond grows stronger and deeper. However, when Jessica falls ill and later passes away, Jiro is left seeking solace from the cherished memories they shared.
“I’mPerfect” was almost 15 years in the making. In fact, a teaser trailer uploaded to YouTube in 2017 showed an earlier, unfulfilled vision of the film featuring different actors. Bernardo had been pitching the concept to different producers since 2010, but it wasn’t until Nathan Studios came along last year that it finally found a home.
“After all these years of waiting, ‘I’mPerfect’ found its perfect time,” the director, writing on Facebook, says of her debut MMFF feature. “Sometimes, love and imperfection just need time. And when the time is right, it all makes sense.”
Joining “I’mPerfect” in the MMFF roster are “Call Me Mother” by Jun Robles Lana, “Manila’s Finest” (Raymond Red), “Rekonek” (Jade Castro), “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” (Shugo Praico, Joey de Guzman, Ian Lorenos), “Bar Boys: After School” (Kip Oebanda), “Love You So Bad” (Mae Cruz-Alviar), and “Unmarry” (Jeffrey Jeturian).
Auditions for “I’mPerfect,” producer Sylvia Sanchez says, started last October and lasted until around December. Upon finalizing the cast—which also included people with autism and cerebral palsy—extensive acting workshops were held over the next three months before filming began. While the producers and creative team never doubted their actors’ capabilities, they were still amazed by what the cast managed to pull off.
“They surpassed all our expectations—sobra, sobra pa,” Sanchez, who also plays a supporting role in the film, tells reporters on the sidelines of the MMFF event.
Openness is courage
While there have been films led by an actor with Down syndrome, like “Ku’te (2016) and “Star na si Van Damme Stallone” (2016), “I’mPerfect” may be the first major film where one of the central, driving plots is romance.
Given the current moviegoing landscape, bankrolling such a project with a non-traditional theme might seem like a risk. Some people around Sanchez certainly thought so.
“They asked me, ‘Why do a movie on people with Down syndrome?’ I said, ‘Why not? They’re human like the rest of us,’” she says. “Others wondered, ‘Kaya ba nila? Baka hanggang saan lang ang acting nila.’ But we proved them wrong—kayang-kaya nila.”
More than educating viewers about the whys or whats of Down syndrome, “I’mPerfect” seeks to normalize the experiences of the people who have it—that they can listen, learn, and love just like the rest of us. As the film’s tagline states, “openness is the courage” to do all those “beyond differences.”
“They’re often judged and their capabilities underestimated,” Sanchez points out. “We want their stories to be told—we want them to be seen.”
And judging by the smiles on the cast members’ faces during the event, it’s hard not to believe that they indeed feel seen in that moment. Outside the venue, gathered for photos after the ceremony, they chorused, “We’re not perfect, but we’re strong,” and then triumphantly chanted, “Yes, we can!”
