Ode to Nothing
Director: Dwein Baltazar
Actors: Pokwang, Joonee Gamboa, Lita Loresco
PlotIn a quiet Filipino town, a lonely middle-aged woman named Sonya runs a small funeral home struggling to stay afloat. Business is slow, and Sonya is burdened by debts, with creditors constantly knocking at her door. Her life revolves around monotonous routines while she craves connection and purpose. One day, her gloomy existence takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious cadaver appears at her doorstep. With no one to claim the body, Sonya seizes the opportunity to give this unknown deceased a dignified funeral, providing a temporary boost to her struggling business.
As Sonya becomes increasingly attached to the lifeless visitor, she finds herself engaging in conversations with the corpse, filling the void of companionship in her life. Her interactions with the dead body become a source of comfort and a way to process her feelings of isolation and despair. The presence of the cadaver slowly begins to influence her view on life and her relationships with the people around her. Through these unsettling yet poignant moments, Sonya starts to confront her own demons, unravel her sense of worth, and reevaluate her existence amid the specters of death and solitude that linger in her small funeral parlor. As life unfolds around her, she faces choices that challenge the boundaries between life and death, solitude and connection.
Writers: Dwein Baltazar
Release Date: 23 Apr 2021
Runtime: 92 min
Rating: N/A
Country: Philippines
Language: Tagalog, Filipino
Home Video Reviews
Ode to Nothing offers an eccentric, human tale with excellent character study and a standout interview with director Baltazar; Kani Releasing excels again.
Read our review of Ode to Nothing Blu-ray Oda sa wala to find out more