Even as minority representation continues to pick up in Hollywood, there are still plenty of cultural stories to explore. DreamWorks Animation‘s next outing, Forgotten Island, will bring a Filipino-flavoured twist to an Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-like premise, with Filipino stars leading the charge.
Set in the 1990s, it follows childhood best friends Jo (Gabi Wilson, aka H.E.R) and Raissa (Liza Soberano), who are about to go their separate ways after Raissa decides to study abroad. As they spend one last night together, the duo stumbles on a magic portal that takes them to Nakali — likely rooted in the Tagalog word “nakalimutan”, meaning “forgotten”) — Island, where an army of creatures from Philippine mythology, including the manananggal (Lea Salonga) and ibong adarna, reside.
But there’s another looming threat. The longer they stay on the island, the more their memories are erased, putting their friendship to the test as they find their way back home. Eagle-eyed viewers will recognise several nods to Filipino culture in the clip, such as the “Mabahay” sign above the front window of the pair’s jeepney, and the portal taking the shape of the sun on the country’s national flag. (For the uninitiated, Michel Gondry’s 2004 film follows a couple who undergo memory erasure after they break up.)
Forgotten Island is directed and written by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the duo behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and who have remained close after working together on 2011’s Kung Fu Panda 2.
“I so quickly found a kindred spirit in my stupid humour, in my movie references — and, more than anything, a great friend who made me feel like I could be myself around him,” Crawford said of Mercado (via The Hollywood Reporter). “When given the opportunity to tell a story of original story, I was like, ‘Friendship — it’s got to be about that.’”
In addition to H.E.R, Soberano, and Salonga, the other Filipino cast members include Dolly de Leon, Manny Jacinto, Amielynn Abellera, and Jo Koy. Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, and Ronny Chieng round out the roster.
Forgotten Island hits theatres on 25 September.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
