I'mPerfect, a landmark film portraying love and coming of age for people with Down syndrome
Issue #22
[Author’s Note]
Hello fellow Filipiniana fans,
As of this writing, my partner and I have seen 5 out of 8 Metro Manila Film Festival entries. We have enjoyed every single one so far. I don’t know if we’ll still have the time to catch the rest of the entries at the cinema before work gets hectic again. I don’t know if I still have the budget either (even Direk Jun Robles Lana knows MMFF ticket prices have become quite expensive)!
In any case, the next few issues of this newsletter will feature those entries we have seen. For those of you who have seen the films, I would love to know your thoughts as well.
Mabuhay ang Pelikulang Pilipino!
-Roi
I’mPerfect, a landmark film portraying what love and coming of age look like for people with Down syndrome
I’mPerfect made history after winning Best Picture and Best Ensemble at the 51st edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival. Written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, the film follows Jiro and Jessica, both people with Down syndrome (DS), as they navigate life, love, and relationships. Jiro is a 29-year old son to doctor parents. He has been homeschooled his whole life before getting enrolled in a special needs program. There he meets his classmate Jessica who is 28 years old and works as a waitress at a cafe.
The film was 16 years in the making. Although the script was started in 2014, the idea was first conceptualized in 2009 when Bernardo worked as a director for a fashion show featuring people with DS. In the MMFF 2025 Special of Endslate, she recounted that experience. “Nagulat ako kasi umorder siya [a person with DS] ng pizza. Alam niya kung ano yung ayaw niya. Na-schock ako. It was an eye-opener for me.” She also shared that she has a relative with a mental disability which piqued her curiosity. “I just don’t get it — paano ‘to nagwowork, itong mundo na ito. I just thought it was the end of the line, so nacurious ako.” She admitted that she didn’t initially know much about DS and had doubts herself. “Sa totoo lang, I have to admit na hindi po ako noon naniniwala kung kaya nila.” Still, the experience left her inspired to learn more about the condition and create a story.
But producers were more hesitant and doubtful of the film’s appeal. An initial teaser was released in 2017 and though some producers liked the heartwarming message, no one committed to the project. Sylvia Sanchez, who has a family member with DS, saw the value of telling the story and the film’s potential. She served as the film’s Executive Producer and played Jessica’s mother, Norma.
It’s evident the film had much love and respect for people with DS. Bernardo wasn’t afraid to show reality and her characters’ (the leads and the family and friends surrounding them) imperfections. More importantly, she trusted her cast’s ability to deliver remarkable performances.
The result is a landmark film. It is the first MMFF entry featuring people with DS as leads and other key characters. Female lead Krystel Go also won Best Actress. The Philippine Star lauded the film’s victory, stating it is “expected to cause ripples beyond the Philippines offering a new benchmark for global cinema. By casting neurodivergent actors to tell their own stories—rather than relying on neurotypical actors to mimic them—the film challenges international standards of authenticity and representation.” An impressive feat, especially considering Bernardo did not even expect their film to be selected for MMFF in the first place due to “commercial viability.”
I personally loved the coming-of-age theme. Although the leads were nearly 30, their story is of self-discovery, transitioning to adulthood/becoming more independent, and falling in love for the first time. Mainstream Philippine cinema often gets a bad rap for excessively focusing on typical love stories. This is a love story, but it is far from typical. It portrays love between people who are often thought of as lesser and incapable of loving. But what I loved most about the film was it let me go through the same journey Bernardo and anyone with little to no knowledge of DS had. I also know very little about DS. I also had questions about the abilities of people with DS, but I’mPerfect’s dignified portrayal of its characters proved that “yes, they can.”
Ultimately, Bernardo was mindful about inclusivity. At the same time, she was careful not to exploit the very people she advocates for. The desire to give people with DS someone to look up to, while striking the right balance, I think is the heart of the film.
Bernardo said it best. “They are not wallflowers. Hindi sila pang-display. They are not symbols. They are humans. They can be angry and they can experience love. They can fall in love and be independent.”
See also: Metro Manila Film Festival, Films
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So, a must-watch. On my list! Way too underrepresented in film. :(