Fact: Star Cinema’s Starting Over Again (2014) has definitely become one of the most iconic Filipino films of the 2010s. The story of Ginny (played by Toni Gonzaga) and Marco (played by Piolo Pascual) trying to rekindle their relationship after a painful past has deeply resonated with our hearts, making it a movie that’s worth rewatching over and over again.
Of course, the movie’s scenes and lines have also become iconic in their own right—from Marco’s painful “I deserved an explanation, I deserved an acceptable reason” to Ginny falling down to the ground and exclaiming “Kamukha niya si Mama Mary!” when she sees Patty (played by Iza Calzado) for the first time.
Another memorable scene that never fails to make us feel all sorts of emotions—rage, sadness, and sympathy—is when Ginny and Patty finally confront each other over their *shared* lover. Ginny tearfully explains to Patty to let go of Marco because she loved him first, and even admits to sleeping with him while knowing Patty and Marco were in a relationship. (Oof!) But it was Patty’s reaction that made us grip our seats and hold back tears the very first time we watched it in the cinema.
Patty, tearing up over this revelation, quietly replies, “Ang lungkot–lungkot talaga siguro ng buhay mo… Marco and I, we don’t have that big, romantic love story. In fact, ours began in the most unexciting way. As friends. Our love may be quiet and boring, but it’s sure.” CUE THE TEARS!
Iza Calzado Reveals That Her Quiet Rage in Starting Over Again Confrontation Scene Was Real
Iza and Toni recently got to interact again in an episode of Toni Talks, where they bonded over the 10th anniversary of their film, among other things. While the movie was marketed as a rom-com, there were definitely select emotional scenes that were hard to shoot, even for the two acting veterans.
“Tuwing maaalala kita, naaalala ko yung scene na inabot tayo ng dalawang araw, hanggang 4 a.m.,” Toni thinks back, referring to their now-iconic kitchen confrontation scene.
Iza revealed that she was already feeling ~all the feels~ because they had been trying to shoot that particular scene for a while now. She was also worried about not making it to her ASAP dance production the next day. So Direk Olivia Lamasan was doing all she could to get Iza to bring out the right emotions needed for the scene.
“Yung scene na papahid ka ng tissue [sa mukha] pero kailangan ‘di magusot mukha mo. Yung kitang–kitang hurt ka on the inside, pero ‘di magugusot mukha mo. Ang sinabi niya n’un, ‘Ulila ka na. Wala kang mommy and daddy,'” Toni reminisced, referring to what Direk Olivia said to get Iza in the *right* headspace.
Iza, tired and hurt, replied, “Don’t go there.” Direk Olivia made her *control* her emotions, then cued the cameras and told her to utter her lines: “Ang lungkot–lungkot siguro ng buhay mo.” We know we’re not alone when we say that Iza’s quiet rage and tears in that particular scene made us feel for her, and now we know how she perfectly captured that emotion!
Iza, however, didn’t take it personally, because she knew that Direk Olivia was just doing her job to get the right emotions needed for that particular scene.
“I just know that she always whispers things [to get the right emotions]. Pero sa’kin parang, ‘Ang galing oh, nakuha.’ ‘Cause for me, it’s never personal. Of course, she’s using personal details, right? But it’s work.”
A Brief Synopsis of Starting Over Again
Starting Over Again (2014) is a movie about Ginny, an architect, and Marco, a professor-turned-chef, who collaborate again on a personal project years after their breakup. As they work together, old feelings resurface that force them to confront their unresolved past and all the reasons behind their breakup.
