There’s an unmistakable familiarity to Sinagtala, the latest movie offering from director Mike Sandejas, as he returns to filmmaking after 16 years.
The film, which follows the struggles and aspirations of a once-thriving rock group, is less about music and more about personal reckonings, making it an affecting experience for audiences who have ever faced setbacks, strained relationships, or a search for purpose.
After years in commercial work, the director returns to filmmaking, citing the challenges faced by independent cinema. Sandejas, whose previous films Tulad ng Dati and Dinig Sana Kita explored the indie landscape, now shifts toward mainstream territory with a cast led by Rhian Ramos, Rayver Cruz, Arci Muñoz, Matt Lozano, and Glaiza de Castro.
Each character carries a burden: Reggie (Cruz) grapples with his fall from fame after a stint in prison, June (Ramos) wrestles with her identity as an adoptee, Karla (Muñoz) hides a personal truth, Isko (Lozano) lives under the weight of a homophobic father, and Tanya (de Castro) serves as the film’s guiding presence, even as she battles a terminal illness.
What makes Sinagtala particularly compelling is how it frames these struggles through the lens of friendships tested by time and circumstance. The performances, notably from Cruz and Lozano, add sincerity to the narrative. Benjie Paras, as Isko’s father, delivers a performance that lingers, capturing the unspoken tension of a son desperate for acceptance.
The film also benefits from its soundtrack, which isn’t just background noise but mirrors the characters’ emotional states. Music becomes a conduit for reconciliation, regret, and redemption, making its presence in the story feel natural rather than forced.
Sandejas, who has been candid about his own hardships—including a stroke and a prolonged hiatus from filmmaking—infuses the story with a perspective that feels lived-in. Sinagtala never resorts to grand dramatics, instead allowing its characters to face their dilemmas with the kind of quiet determination that mirrors real life.
It’s not a film that reinvents the genre, but it doesn’t have to. Sinagtala succeeds in showing that sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones fought within and that even after years apart, some bonds remain unbroken.
As the final scenes play out, the film leaves behind a feeling of quiet hope—a reminder that reconciliation and second chances are always possible. In essence, it’s all about building lost connections.
Sinagtala was pitched before the pandemic and resumed production with backing from GMA Pictures and Sinagtala Productions. It unspools in cinemas nationwide on April 2.