Photo: ©2023 ANIMA Studios
When This Is All Over
Starting off as a biting take on the Philippines' Covid lockdown through the eyes of "The Guy" (Labajo), a young drug dealer slinging dope to rich brats in a swanky condo, the social commentary quickly spirals into a wild and wooly stoner comedy. But wait, there's more! It's also a thinly veiled middle finger to class, privilege, and the cruel hand of fate, packed with mind-bending twists that don't pull any punches. Its teddy bear of an antihero is looking for a way out, and he almost finds it through a kind-hearted condo staffer who is also a potential love interest. But can their relationship survive in a world that's going to hell in a handbasket? The director calls this a "trip," and he's not kidding—with its psychedelic camerawork (thank you DP Martika Ramirez Escobar) and real-deal production style, this rebellious fever dream never loses sight of its bleeding heart, even as it drags us through the gutter of a society on the brink.