"Hintayan ng Langit" (or Heaven's Waiting) is set in a place called "The Middle," a hotel-turned-way-station for souls awaiting their clearance to go to heaven.
The film follows Lisang (Gina Pareño), a stubborn and grumpy old woman who has lived in "The Middle" for two years already. For some reason, heaven is not opening its doors for her yet. However, she claims that her husband is already petitioning for her.
In the meantime, she spends her time working on different community projects.
One day, a surge of new souls entered "The Middle," and one of them was Manolo (Eddie Garcia), a charming, level-headed, and nice old man.
Since almost all of the rooms in the place are full, the Tagasuri (Joel Saracho) decided to temporarily let him stay with Lisang.
As it turns out, Manolo and Lisang are ex-lovers. The two parted ways without closure a long time ago. Now they both have their own respective families, though the wounds from that relationship never healed.
As the two spend their time together, they bicker and tease each other. But most of the time they found themselves reminiscing about the love they have lost, the lives they have built, and the "what ifs" of their relationship.
The film was originally a one-act play by the spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo, starring Nonoy Froilan and Edna Vida-Froilan. It was one of the featured pieces for the Virgin Labfest in 2015 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The play was a big hit with theater fans, and it even got the attention of director Dan Villegas.
The film has this very unusual setting that makes it really compelling. It ponders the idea of life after death.
It taps on many interesting ideas that make the viewers understand human nature better. like how Manolo and Lisang mourn the living and how some people cannot fully grasp the thought of leaving and moving on.
One thing I find amusing about "Hintayan ng Langit" is that it shows the importance of closure in a relationship. Closure allows people to move on and accept that everything is over. although, as the film suggests, it is difficult. One must experience sadness, anger, and heartbreak, but that’s all part of healing and moving on.
Nevertheless, Eddie "Manoy" Garcia and Gina Pareño are the true positives in this film. The chemistry between the two veteran actors is undeniable, and their acting is so good, it's flawless. Needless to say, both of them are breathtaking to watch.
On a side note, this film is one of Garcia’s final performances. An "accidental actor," Manoy's first film was with the great Manuel Conde in his movie "Siete Infantes de Lara" in 1949 while taking a military break. Later, Garcia acted in almost 700 movies and TV shows, which made him known as "the best Filipino actor of all time."
To sum it up, "Hintayan ng Langit" is a charming film that deserves to be recognized as one of 2018's top films for its heart and soul.
4/5
