Alice (Max Eigenmann) said this line over and over again to people around her as they became more persistent in convincing her to stop the abortion.
Alice is 40 years old; she struggles to balance her responsibility as the team leader of their humanitarian mission in Marawi with her delicate pregnancy. Her boyfriend, Ben (Vance Larena), is a carefree and alcoholic young man without any stable job. Even more so, he’s abusive and manipulative. Alice is right to break up with him, but he always comes back with sweet words and gestures, and she gives in again and again.
Of course, her concerned best friend Lorna (Claudia Enriquez) is not totally on board with all of her decisions. But she understands her, and she always extends a helping hand every time she needs it. In fact, she’s the one who recommended the abortion facility.
Words about Alice’s intent to abort her child quickly spread like wildfire. Her mom (Bing Pimentel) criticized her decision, but she has certain reservations about it. On the other hand, Ben continually bugs her to be involved in her pregnancy despite her repeated refusal.
Alice starts to doubt her decision with so many people having different thoughts on the situation and forcing their own beliefs on her. As time goes on, she will need to make a choice. Will she keep the baby or not?
Anna Isabelle Matutina’s first full-length feature premiered during the 18th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. It won the NETPAC Award and the Best Actress Award for Max Eigenmann’s performance. Now, it is part of the 10th QCinema International Film Festival's Asian Next Wave Competition, competing against six other films.
"12 Weeks" unfolds like a documentary film. In a talkback with director Anna Isabelle Matutina, she said that the inspiration for the film is partly from her personal experience, but mostly from her time working on various documentaries. Thus, her script and treatment of Alice's story feel so real.
Abortion will always be a tricky topic to discuss in a country strongly attached to its Catholic roots. There’s not enough education about it, and most people try to avoid it rather than open themselves to a conversation. A part of me wished that "12 Weeks" provided that much-needed lesson on abortion. Although I think that staying right in the middle of things makes sense as it adds a lot of sensibility to the discourse.
"12 Weeks" was able to shine a light on other important information about pregnancy. After watching the film, it is a sure thing that people will view womanhood differently. Respect is undoubtedly one of the words it has earned for women, in addition to other admirations.
Furthermore, one of the other interesting side-stories it tells is the war that happened in Marawi back in 2017. After the film, Anna Isabelle Matutina explained her decision to include the conflict that happened in Mindanao and have it intercut with Alice’s pregnancy. She said that the tragedy happens while writing the screenplay of the film, and the decision to include it in the narrative is meant to show a different kind of violence that exists but is larger in scale. Although it presents two distinct faces of violence, there’s no existing competition for whichever is worse. Both are equally unacceptable; both should not exist.
It would be unfair to end this review without mentioning the ability of Max Eigenmann to channel a plethora of emotions. Alice is a complex character; she’s frustrated, defiant, brave, and vulnerable. Her eyes are very expressive, and her delivery of each exasperated word is really striking. Matutina definitely hits the pot of gold in Eigenmann.
"12 Weeks" is the kind of film that would make you lean forward on your chair so you can watch it intently. It’s such an interesting study of womanhood and the different kinds of abuse they experienced. Despite a heavy theme, it will leave you feeling not totally hopeless about the country’s situation, as it still has an admirable quiet delicacy to it.
4/5
