There is a reason any entertainment piece about adultery sells. The controversy, the relatability, and the sheer inexplicable emotions many of us feel whenever we encounter one that advocates the taboo. Often, the stories with top engagement and the most viral videos include cheating or confrontation.
This is perhaps why many other films about illicit affairs have been done in the past. But “Just A Stranger” stands out because of the twists successfully spun by Jason Paul Laxamana.
The film revolves around Mae (Anne Curtis) and Jericho or Jekjek (Marco Gumabao) who met in Lisbon. Mae is an independent woman, sexy and full of charisma. Jekjek, meanwhile, is a guy who is yet to follow his real passion in life. The two form an instant connection. The catch? Jericho is half Mae’s age, and the two are both tied up in relationships.
“Just A Stranger” may have reveled on infidelity more times than one, but those who have watched it will also learn that things are often complicated than one thinks. Check out the reasons the film is not all about the usual cheatings and third parties.
It’s a film about how one finds peace amidst pressure
Mae is married to a rich businessman much older than her, named Phil. They’ve been unhappy for a long time as Phil’s continuous success made them grow further apart. The film shows the stress on Mae as the tycoon’s wife: the endless formal parties and meetings with people she has nothing in common with. She has to play the role of a supportive spouse, constantly smiling at people she doesn’t even like—and Phil forcing him to go despite being sick doesn’t actually help.
Jericho’s struggle, meanwhile, is something many young adults go through. Being the son of a diplomat, the 19-year-old boy carries this heavy pressure to follow his parents’ footsteps. He was forced to take a course he doesn’t like. His father nags him to enter politics. Even his girlfriend Febbie has become the extension of his parent’s controlling nature. He wants to show them that he’s someone who can make decisions on his own. The problem is, just like what most kids today feel, he does not want to disappoint these people he cares about.
This is why Mae’s and Jericho’s relationship became a sanctuary. It’s a prohibited one, but it’s also where the two felt the safest and most secure—free to dance around in a local bar, mock people in their lives, and just simply be themselves. In each other, they are away from all the pressure and stress placed upon them by the very people who should have cared enough to know what they actually want.
It shows how time does not guarantee strength in love
Mae has been married to Phil for 13 years, while Jericho has been with Febbie for over two years. Yet their relationships did not blossom the way it did for Mae and Jericho—who have fallen in love and known each other better than anyone, in a much shorter time. This only proves that bond, not time, is what makes love strong. Someone you’ve known for 10 years might not give you the same of affection and commitment as someone you’ve known for only 10 days.
The movie advocates love of all kinds
Had it been a normal love story between two single people, “Just A Stranger” might have been the perfect film about how love sees no difference like gender, class status, and even age.
The two-decade gap didn’t come in the way for Mae and Jericho. The maturity and the young spirit they shower each other with show the real beauty of their complicated relationship. Of course, that wouldn’t have been portrayed well if it weren’t for the chemistry and heat between Marco and Anne.
It shows the sad truth about caring in silence
Those in an unrequited situation might find themselves welling a tear or two when they see just how far Mae would go just so she can still feel connected to Jericho. Even if you have no experience with infidelity, if you’ve ever cared about someone but cannot express it publicly, this is definitely the film you’ll get some sort of connection to.
When Jericho got in a vegetative state after being beaten on the streets, Mae rented a house next to his so she can observe him every day from her balcony. Just like what she said in her confession, she’s “not officially allowed to be publicly visible in his life.” So, she did the best she could—caring for him from afar. The scene where she saw Jericho’s lifeless body being dragged into the ambulance was gut-wrenching, mainly because she couldn’t express her grief in a way that can be showed to other people. It also clearly displays the prowess of Anne as an actress. Her previous films have shown just how much she has matured as an actress, and her performance in “Just A Stranger” further proves that she is a force to be reckoned with.
Mae even went as far as creating a fake eulogy, just so she can come up on the stage and take a closer look at Jericho one last time—even for just a few seconds.
The reality of having Fibromyalgia Syndrome
This disorder is not talked about enough to gather necessary awareness. Many who have seen this film might have only learned about it right then. But it’s a reality. It happens for many people. And we should talk about it more.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a rheumatoid disorder that involves the muscles and bones, causing one to often experience sudden surges intense pain and fatigue. Mae is suffering from this disorder, and has caused her to bail on plans and even fights with Phil. Having this syndrome also takes a toll on one’s mental state, as the feeling of insignificance can sometimes overwhelm. In the film, Mae even told Jericho that she doesn’t want to be seen this way because it makes her feel like a worthless old lady.
The strangers are sometimes those you’ve already met
The movie’s premise is about them being strangers to each other. In the end, however, we learn that the two have known more about each other better than how the people in their lives do. Mae knew more about Jericho than his parents and girlfriend, and vice versa.
Not even his parents and Febbie realize that Jericho’s passion is to become a traveler like Anthony Bourdain. Not even her friends knew that Mae is no longer happy with her marriage. Outside, the two are strangers in each other’s’ lives. In their own little bubble, however, they were anything but.
