Ligaw is an over-the-top Filipino film that was released in 2025,” shares the famous film critic Angela Baton. “Oh my God, I really enjoyed this movie and can’t wait to watch it again” provides John Kent in one of his social media updates, “the beauty of the film comes out of the contrast of the Philippine countryside and a woman’s inner conflict begging to break from the shackles of social expectations.”
Captivating Plot Full of Sacrifice and Dreams
Dolores (Rob Guinto), a devoted wife, has dedicated herself to looking after her husband, Rodel (JC Tan), who in a tragic accident, sustained a paralysis. As a woman, she carved an identity and created a life unique to her desires needing only acceptance. She resides in a sleepy countryside town where she truly feels like she has achieved something since caring for a paralyzed spouse requires extreme courage, patience, and sacrifice but triumph comes only when the hero gets the recognition she deserves, a live she is proud of. Unlike what we perceive, every person experiences life full of shade and silence camouflaging and her internal conflict camera rolling documenting expectations and reality.
Change comes to Dolores when she meets Jayron (Ali Asistio), a ruggedly handsome mountaineer who is visiting the village on a trekking expedition. With his cheerful disposition and love for life, Jayron is infectious. Despite herself, Dolores finds she starts to feel things she hasn’t felt in years. What begins as casual meetings soon climaxes into an obsessive affair that rattles the core of her meticulously constructed life.
Unlike other stories, the beauty Ligaw focuses on is not about shock value or outrage but the raw nature of an affair. It neither vilifies Dolores for her indiscretion nor glorifies infidelity. It explores in depth emotional starvation and deep seated loneliness that can persist even in the confines of a marriage or within a seemingly committed relationship.
The Psychological Conflict Of Ligaw
In Ligaw, Dolores’s internal conflict concerns her the most. She is neither a pure villain nor a complete victim. The ache she feels to have Jayron is not simply hypersexual—it’s a more primal need to experience life, to be noticed, and to be valued. Her inner conflict is still accompanied by guilt and responsibility to her husband. Guinto’s raw performance allows the film to capture this emotional tug-of-war.
The narrative is built through quiet moments rather than melodrama, as crafted by director Omar Deroca. Long pauses, prolonged stares, and the stillness of the countryside all add to the feeling of emotional suffocation. When sessions of relief with Dolores and Jayron happen, the screen flares up, and it these pauses that flood in air.
A Cinematic Exploration Of Emotions And Visuals
With the contribution of Dax Gomez, the cinematography of the film transforms its tone into that of poetic realism. The setting shifts from mere scenery to a character of its own. The dusk-tinged silent roads and night-crickets create a dangerously delicate sensation. It brings one to a time-warp where deviation is mutedly punished through judgmental glares and covert gossip.
The film employs visual distinctions to depict Dolores’s emotional condition. Life with Rodel has cold, washed-out colors. Her moments with Jayron, on the other hand, are warm and bright – until reality creeps in and even those moments are drenched in gloomy shadows.
Silent Characters That Tell So Much
Besides Dolores, Jayron himself is a stunning character. He does not fall under the category of the usual tossers. As a man with his emotional suitcase, he is bound to come off this way. His attraction toward Dolores corresponds to real love, but never blinds him to the repercussions of their deeds. Asistio plays Jayron with witty charm and sadness, suggesting around the edges of his performance that, like the rest of us, he too must be running from something.
Rodel has a presence in the film’s emotional arc despite being mute and motionless for most of the film. JC Tan portrays him not as one who deserves sympathy, but as a man acutely conscious of the rapid emotional gash that is setting between him and his wife. Indeed, his eyes, which are so painfully still, say a great deal.
Themes and Social Commentary
Ligaw does more than tell a tale of romance—it analyzes the constraints that conservative communities impose on women, especially regarding their marriage roles. Dolores is a character caught in the web of societal expectations and her personal needs. The film poses uncomfortable questions: Is love sustainable in the absence of freedom? Is it virtuous to remain in a marriage if doing so means obliterating one’s identity? What does one sacrifice in the pursuit of personal happiness?
It also critiques the notion, particularly held of women, that caregiving, self-effacement, and self-neglect go hand in hand. While Dolores does not give up on her husband, she dares to dream of a life where she is more than a caregiver.
Critical Reception and Audience Reaction
Ligaw has not received a formal IMDb rating yet; however, it has received praise in early screenings for its sincere storytelling and emotional depth in the script. Robb Guinto’s performance has been singled out as a performance for the ages, while the direction of Deroca has been described as subtle yet profoundly sympathetic. The film does not seek to praise or vilify, but to empathize.
Critics do compare Ligaw with previous Filipino works such as Kisapmata and In the Name of Love because of the narrative tension and morally questionable characters. Nevertheless, Ligaw is a personal and reflective drama in its own right.
Conclusion
In cinema that is dominated by superficial spectacles and shallow romances, Ligaw is a welcome addition. It thoughtfully tackles the complex realities of love, desire, and betrayal—especially the more self-destructive elements. There are no easy solutions to find, but Ligaw provides something far more valuable: empathy.
Those interested in exploring human experiences with warmth and honesty will certainly appreciate Ligaw.
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