I'MPERFECT

I’MPERFECT (2025)

Written & Directed by: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

For the first time in Philippine cinema, Persons with Down Syndrome will take the lead on the big screen. No matter what happens, this is already a groundbreaking milestone that will transform—not only the landscape of the movie industry—but also our perceptions of what people can truly achieve.

Hindi sapat ang panyo sa dami ng maiiyak mo. Mauubos ang luha mo. Mapapagod ang mata at puso mo. Bato na lang ang hindi matatamaan.

Kada salita at kilos nila, magiging proud ka para sa kanila. Konting usap lang, may kirot na. Kada galaw nila ay nakakamangha. Hindi mo alam kung ano ba ang unang gagawin ng kamay mo. Ang magpunas ng luha, o ang pumalakpak.

Hindi lang nila ipinakita kung ano ang kaya nilang gawin. Sinagad pa nila. Walang limitasyon. Abot hanggang langit. Lumipad sila.

Inclusivity reaches new heights in this film. It not only entertains but also educates. Every scene feels like a guide that helps us understand them better. For every new page and chapter, your love for them expands.

The characters are introduced in a way that is tied to the narrative. The music gently supports the scenes in an understated way. The ensemble makes history as it defines true representation on the big screen.

Krystel Go is a lovable actress, with eyes that can tell stories. She is able to deliver her lines with effortless humor. Earl Go is a charming leading man who wins you over with his sincerity in facing challenges. Honest and funny, Richelle Joyce Primo Uy is the kind of best friend you’d want to have.

You can feel Lorna Tolentino’s pain and worries, breaking her apart from the inside. When she opens up, the outpouring of emotion is overwhelming. Zaijian Jaranilla shows empathy and support where it’s needed the most. Sylvia Sanchez speaks through the heart. Her actions stem from a deep desire to make her child happy.

Making choices for your children is never easy. It leaves you wondering about the parents’ thought process behind such major decisions—a layer that’s only lightly touched upon by the film.

They fill us with overwhelming positivity and optimism throughout, yet the final scenes weaken that tone and disrupt the harmony—leaving you uncertain about what to feel at the end.

There are moments when you wish the film would wrap up sooner, yet it stretches on unnecessarily. While the chosen ending feels realistic, it leaves audiences with a heavy, somber mood. Endings matter most—as they linger long after the credits roll—and this one delivers a depressing, melancholic finish.

The rough editing and uneven pacing are evident, paired with cinematography that doesn’t fully capture the richness of the setting. Nonetheless, the ensemble still succeeds in breaking stereotypes.

Indeed, they’ve proven—beyond doubt and with flying colors—that they can. With all the possibilities they’ve shown, the film deserves to be seen by everyone.

It may be not perfect, but it offers something more valuable and far greater than perfection.

𝐈’𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓

Cast: Krystel Go, Earl Amaba, Sylvia Sanchez, Tonton Gutierrez, Joey Marquez, Zaijian Jaranilla, Janice De Belen, Lorna Tolentino

Also Starring: Joel Saracho, Myke Salomon, Viveika Ravanes

With: Carl Jason Garcia, Richelle Joyce Primo Uy, Gio Jose Dicen, Angela Batallones, Javi Sarmiento, Bea Mendoza, Royce Gian Rivera, Jonathan Tilos, Akiko Thomson

Presented by: Nathan Studios

Release Date: December 25, 2025 in Philippine cinemas nationwide

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews

Sinong inaabangan mo sa I'MPERFECT?

• Earl Amaba
• Krystel Go
• Zaijian Jaranilla
• Janice De Belen

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