In her first movie produced by Viva Films, actress Kim Chiu felt nothing but excitement when she learned that she would be paired with Xian Lim. She and her reel and real-life partner star in the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean romantic movie, Always.
“Always is a romantic drama movie about two people with different outlooks on life, both damaged by the cruelties of the world – one physically and the other emotionally. In this movie, you’ll see a more mature Kim and Xian,” the actress told Manila Standard Entertainment during the movie’s pocket press conference.
“Just watching the trailer, you’d already see how different we are in this movie. Most of our previous projects were romcom. Here, we are going to share deeper kinds of emotions with the audience,” she added.
Always marks the reunion of Kim and Xian as one of the most successful love teams in recent history. And they promised to make the audience feel love and heartbreak in their much-awaited big screen comeback.
“With the roles we’re portraying, we wanted to give the audience different characters compared to the ones we have previously played. It’s going to be a different flavor, and I hope maiba namin yung percepcion ng mga tao on what we can do onscreen,” Xian said.
Both stars admitted that they were surprised by the level of maturity each of them has showcased in the movie, proof that both of them have matured in the acting department.
“Xian also directs films, so he knows a lot of things when it comes to filmmaking,” Kim stated. “Mas malalim na siya ngayon at mas intense. There were scenes that I get mesmerized ‘pag pinapanuod ko siya, nakaka-inlove lalo.”
“You know, after eight years, we’re back on the big screen. I can feel that we have grown so much. But definitely, even if we’ve been together for so many years, working with her again feels like it’s the first time. Nanduon pa din yung excitement and the butterflies in the stomach,” Xian chimed.
The original K-movie starred film and movie stars So Ji-Sub (Oh My Venus, Doctor Lawyer) and Han Hyo-Joo (Dong Yi, W). The movie has several adaptations from different countries like Turkey, India, and last 2020 in Japan.
The story follows Anna (Kim), a blind woman who goes to her frequent parking booth to hang out with her pal only to find out that it now has a new attendant, a former boxer, and a mysterious, sad-looking man named Lino (Xian). Despite Lino’s dismissive attitude, Anna stays and even goes back nights after to hang out at Lino’s parking booth. Through shared snacks and Anna’s warm presence, Lino’s walls begin to fall and start to open up and be at ease with Anna, a feeling he hasn’t felt in a long time.
As each day passes, Lino becomes more protective and caring for Anna, both start to feel something more for each other, and their blossoming romance starts to flourish. But Lino’s dark past and personal struggles caught up with him, this becomes a hindrance to their relationship leaving Anna puzzled and confused.
Always is adapted into screenplay by award-winning writer Mel Mendoza- Del Rosario and helmed by seasoned director Dado C. Lumibao.
Produced by Viva Films, Always screens in cinemas nationwide on September 28.
