STAR CINEMA’S ‘ONE MORE TRY’ made me shed a few tears the first time I watched its trailer in early November, despite its close similarity to the Cameron Diaz starrer ‘My Sister’s Keeper.’ But after watching the trailer of the Chinese film ‘In Love We Trust’ last week, I wanted those teardrops back.
‘One More Try’ stars Dingdong Dantes, Angel Locsin, Angelica Panganiban, and Zanjoe Marudo and is part of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, opening in Philippine cinemas nationwide on December 25.
‘In Love We Trust’ premiered at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival in 2008, after missing the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and the 64th Venice International Film Festival, where it was first selected.
The Chinese film ‘In Love We Trust’ is believed to be the original movie ‘One More Try’ was copied from.
Two Films, One Plot
Both films are about two married couples who are happy living separate lives until a problem arises: the former couple’s child needs a bone marrow transplant, which must come from a sibling. The options are in vitro fertilization (IVF) or doing it the natural way. When the first option fails, they’re left with the second, which causes all the conflicts in their respective marriages.
Unless we watch both films, we won’t know the exact similarities beyond the plot, which should be a big no-no in the first place. I was once very interested, but after learning about the possible (if not already obvious) copycat, ‘One More Try’ is now, to me, more of a Filipino adaptation of the Chinese film without proper credit to the original. But a good try.
I don’t think that will hinder the film’s box office success, though, considering its star-studded cast and the strong marketing machinery of Star Cinema, ABS-CBN’s film outfit. With only a few good options at MMFF 2012, people who want drama will definitely watch ‘One More Try.’ I, for one, will watch it for comparison.
However, its being a feature film in the annual festival makes one wonder: is the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority really good at handling trash? Why only a few quality films in MMFF? Thoughts?