In an age when so much of life feels curated—our emotions masked, our personalities filtered, our real selves hidden behind carefully constructed online versions—Nathan Studios’ Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 entry I’Mperfect offers something we didn’t realize we wanted: authenticity.
Top-billed by actors with Down Syndrome, the film is a reminder of the kind of humanity we often forget to practice. After speaking with the cast, it becomes clear that I’Mperfect carries an invitation to return to sincerity and the kind of pureness that makes life lighter yet richer.
What will strike you immediately when talking to the cast is how effortlessly they show their hearts. They speak with a disarming sincerity. They express joy without hesitation and emotion without embarrassment. These are qualities many of us seem to forget (or unlearn!) as we grow older. We eventually learn to temper our reactions, hide our vulnerabilities, and present only the polished parts of ourselves online or in real life. But the cast of I’Mperfect reminds us of what we lose when we do that.
The stars’ authenticity is instinctive. When they laugh, they laugh with their whole body. When they feel kilig, they gush so openly. When they dream, they name those dreams with courage. Listening to them, I wondered: what would the world look like if we lived this way? If we spoke from the heart, unafraid of seeming “too much” or “too emotional”? What if we allowed ourselves to be seen imperfectly?
The stars’ involvement in the film also reveals their capacity for depth, discipline, and passion. They memorized lines, rehearsed diligently, and took pride in their roles.
Beyond the effort, what makes their performances truly powerful is the purity behind it. They act without ego, without calculation, and without the layers of self-consciousness or complicated acting techniques. Their presence onscreen becomes a celebration of being raw and real. And in a world struggling with loneliness, judgment, and disconnection, this kind of realness feels new, light, and revolutionary.
Authenticity leads to inclusivity
People with Down Syndrome, being pure and authentic as they are in connecting with others, make others feel seen. They approach those around them with a certain kind of lambing (a mix of gentleness, sweetness, and sincerity) we all long for but rarely encounter. In their company, we are reminded that kindness can be automatic and that vulnerability is the bridge that makes understanding possible.
I’Mperfect is a love story led by individuals who embody the courage to exist without masks. Their authenticity invites us to question the walls we’ve built around our own hearts. Their sincerity shows us the beauty of expressing what we feel. Their pureness demonstrates that a life lived openly is a life lived fully.
If there is one truth they leave with us, it is that we don’t need to be perfect to be worthy. We just need to be real. And when we embrace that, when we allow ourselves to live with the kind of honesty the cast carries effortlessly, the world becomes a lighter, happier, and more loving place to live in.
Catch I’Mperfect in cinemas starting Dec. 25.
Watch out for my full interview with the stars on YouTube channel Random Republika.
For your random thoughts, email the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.
