Seven Sundays (2017 film)

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Seven Sundays
Seven Sundays Star Cinema Official Poster.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina
Screenplay by
  • Roumella Monge
  • Kiko Abrillo
  • John Raphael Gonzaga
Story by
  • Vanessa R. Valdez
  • Roumella Monge
  • Kiko Abrillo
Produced byElma S. Medua
Starring
CinematographyTheo Lozada
Edited byMarya Ignacio
Music byJessie Lasaten
Production
company
Distributed by Star Cinema
Release date
  • October 11, 2017 (2017-10-11)
Running time
128 minutes
Box office₱271 million [1]

Seven Sundays (stylized as seven sundays) is a 2017 Philippine family comedy-drama film directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina. The screenplay written by Roumella Monge, Kiko Abrillo, and John Raphael Gonzaga was adapted from a story by Monge, Abrillo, and Vanessa R. Valdez. It stars Aga Muhlach, Ronaldo Valdez, Cristine Reyes, Dingdong Dantes and Enrique Gil. [2] [3]

Contents

Produced and released by Star Cinema on October 11, 2017, [4] the film received praise from both critics and audiences and became the seventh highest-grossing Philippine film of 2017. It also marks Muhlach's return since Of All The Things in 2012. [5]

Plot

Manuel Bonifacio is a widower and former barangay captain and overseas Filipino worker who lives with his nephew Jun. On his birthday, he is greeted by the townsfolk and his children (through greeting cards). However, late in the evening, he receives the news from his doctor that he has lung cancer and had only two months to live. Manuel's children arrive at their old household and vote to discuss the matter. They decide to visit him for seven Sundays in spite of their own problems. Allan competed with a rival business owner named Mr. Kim. Bryan wanted to meet a woman named Juliana Smith. Charmaine struggled with her husband Jerry's infidelity. Dexter is on the run after a botched concert event.

While out buying prepaid phone credits, Dexter meets his old friend, goes to Allan's store, and realize that he faces financial issues. The next day, the siblings decide to host a birthday party for their own father after not showing up to his birthday. They ask Jun to stall their father in order to buy some time, but Manuel catches up. Allan and Bryan argue in the middle of a game, involving the rest and the process and causing their father to bring out knives to stop the fighting. Jun asks his cousins to get along, even if they have to pretend. The next day, the siblings pretend to get along but could not agree on how to bring their father to the funeral parlor. He tells them to prepare a eulogy in advance, causing an awkward moment.

While at the family household; Bryan, Charmaine, and Dexter talk about their past. Manuel receives a call from the doctor that he was misdiagnosed and that he simply had tuberculosis. Manuel does not disclose the news to his children, fearing that they will abandon him again. The next Sunday, the family goes to the beach. Manuel shows an unusual amount of vigor, causing his children to be suspicious of his true medical condition. Manuel shows his family a game where he picks out a letter from the old Rebisco can and the siblings have to guess who wrote the letter. They realize how distant they have become over the years.

Dexter stays with his father and buys ice cream together at Allan's store. They realize his financial situation while confronting Mr. Kim. While eating, Dexter sees Charmaine's husband and a college student flirting with each other, causing Dex to hit Jerry. Manuel calls Bryan to help Allan regarding his financial situation. In response to the favor, Allan helps Bryan open up about the woman he is after, who turned out to be the mother to his illegitimate child. After a checkup, Allan realizes the truth about Manuel's illness and confronts him. One evening, as the family prepares for dinner, Dexter confronts Charmaine about hitting her husband and overhears the conversation about Manuel's condition. Bryan gets a call about what Dexter allegedly did during the botched concert, causing him to confront Dexter. Because of this, the siblings fight and leave.

The next day, Charmaine evicts her husband, Allan returns to his store, Dexter returns to his old room and Bryan receives a message from the woman. Allan makes amends to Bryan and find the other siblings. They then go to the cemetery where their late mother is buried. They see their father talking to her grave, lamenting about how he felt like a failure in being a father. The siblings say their promised eulogy to their still-living father and make a loving embrace. The movie ends with Allan's store being relaunched successfully, with Mr. Kim's brother unsuccessfully trying to invite people to his groundbreaking event.

Cast

Main cast

Dingdong Dantes - 2014 (cropped).jpg
Dingdong Dantes portrays Bryan "Bry" A. Bonifacio.
Cristine Reyes by Jopet Sy, November 2011.jpg
Cristine Reyes portrays Charmaine "Cha" A. Bonifacio.

Supporting cast

Cameo appearances

Reception

Critical response

Writing for Rappler, Oggs Cruz praised the story and the acting performances of the cast, particularly Ronaldo Valdez playing the patriarch but criticized for some scenes and dialogues where it became a softer version of the director's previous works. [6]

Accolades

YearAward-giving bodyRecipient(s)AwardResultRef.
2018Asia-Pacific Tambuli AwardsSeven SundaysCinema for GoodWon [7]
40th Catholic Mass Media AwardsSeven SundaysBest Film (Student's Choice)Won [8]
49th GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards Aga Muhlach Film Actor of the YearWon [9]
Dingdong Dantes Won
Cristine Reyes Movie Supporting Actress of the YearWon
66th FAMAS Awards Aga Muhlach Best Supporting ActorNominated
Cristine Reyes Best Supporting ActressNominated
36th Luna Awards Aga Muhlach Best ActorWon [10]
Cristine Reyes Best Supporting ActressNominated
Roumella Monge, Kiko Abrillo, John Raphael GonzagaBest ScreenplayWon
Marya IgnacioBest EditingWon
34th PMPC Star Award for MoviesSeven SundaysMovie of the YearNominated [11]
Cathy Garcia-Molina Movie Director of the YearNominated
Dingdong Dantes Movie Actor of the YearNominated
Aga Muhlach Movie Actor of the YearNominated
Enrique Gil Movie Supporting Actor of the YearNominated
Kyle Echarri New Movie Actor of the YearNominated
Melai Monge, Kiko Abrillo, John Raphael GonzagaMovie Screenwriter of the YearNominated
Theo LozadaMovie Cinematographer of the YearNominated
Marya IgnacioMovie Editor of the YearNominated
The EDDYS Aga Muhlach Best ActorWon [12] [13]
Enrique Gil Best Supporting ActorNominated

The movie is often compared to other films dealing with family, such as Tanging Yaman (2000), Four Sisters and a Wedding (2013, also directed by Garcia-Molina and distributed by Star Cinema), and Family Matters (2022). It also became a subject of memes, especially in one memorable scene where Cha (Cristine Reyes) told Jerry (Kean Cipriano), that she could live without him and then cried afterward.

Notes

  1. Credited as April Matienzo.

References

  1. "'Seven Sundays' on KBO". Manila Standard. January 8, 2018.
  2. "LOOK: Aga Muhlach, Dingdong Dantes, Enrique Gil to co-star in a movie". Rappler. June 27, 2017.
  3. "WATCH: Aga Muhlach, Dingdong Dantes star in Seven Sundays trailer". CNN Philippines. September 28, 2017. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  4. "First 'Seven Sundays' teaser debuts with a bang online". Star Cinema. September 28, 2017. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017.
  5. "'Seven Sundays' poster, revealed!". Star Cinema. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017.
  6. Cruz, Oggs (October 15, 2017). ""Seven Sundays" review: Well-acted but frustratingly conventional". Rappler . Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  7. ""Seven Sundays" wins Asia Pacific Tambuli Cinema for Good award". June 18, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. "'The Good Son,' 'Seven Sundays' honored at 40th Catholic Mass Media Awards". November 15, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  9. "Celebrities who won at the 49th Box-Office Entertainment Awards". May 21, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  10. "'Seven Sundays' at 'Ang Larawan', humakot sa 36th Luna Awards!". October 11, 2018. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  11. "Star Cinema scores numerous nominations at the 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies". February 8, 2018. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  12. "Who among nominees will win in the 2nd Entertainment Editors Awards for Movies aka The Eddys?". March 18, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  13. "Winners of Eddy Awards 2018 bared; Maricel, Charo, Eddie and Nora among Film Icons honored". July 9, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2022.