Originally a stage play by Vincent de Jesus, Changing Partners’ unorthodox portrayal of a rocky relationship crossed boundaries onstage in 2016 before grabbing the public’s attention once more in the 2017 Cinema One Originals film festival.

Director Dan Villegas’ storytelling ties down the complexities of couple Alex and Cris to create a narrative that easily transmits the tension between lovers to the film’s audience.

In Changing Partners, Alex and Cris are a couple whose once-sweet romance comes to terms with the realities of infidelity and insecurity, while being divided by a 15-year age gap. Jojit Lorenzo and Agot Isidro are both household names whose theatrical maturity is present in their portrayal of the providing but controlling Alex. The two actors depicting Cris are slightly more distinguishable, as Sandino Martin shows the character’s playfulness, while Anna Luna remains coy but cautious in scenes that demand it.

As though in a ballroom dance, both genders of Alex and Cris interchange throughout the film while the routine and storyline remain the same. The plot is easy to follow, as the film’s impact lies in its emotional narrative and deviation from the theatrical tradition of a single character being played by a single actor. In the same manner that one changes partners in a dance, one lover finds another in the form of different gender portrayals, but all pairings leading to just one story.

Like all dances, a musical accompaniment is a must. The soundtrack of the film is simple, albeit used as a tool in communicating the complexity of the couple’s relationship. From Alex’s paranoia to Cris’ helplessness, each song conveys honesty as well as any dialogue would.

The seemingly challenging screenplay seamlessly challenges the audience’s expectations. In visual and musical simplicity, Villegas is able to enhance minor details in a two-character story. Changing Partners did not only change its characters around, but changed the traditional methods of storytelling as well.

Rating: 4.5/5

Featured photo retrieved from screenanarchy.com