Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story (2023)

Visually stunning, but 'tragic' at its heart.

First of all, I want to say that if you happen to suffer from or deal with mental issues, this movie could be concerning since it lacks trigger warnings and has inconsistent handling of very sensitive material.

If you think this is a strangers-to-lovers romance movie that was filmed in a foreign country, technically, you are not wrong. But the core concept of this movie is far from the typical romantic movie you’ve seen. The idea is somewhat tragic: the FL is suffering depression and flew to Switzerland seeking assisted voluntary death (AVD), a morbid activity that’s legal there, and by chance, she meets another Pinoy, and strangely enough, they bond over the mutual understanding of AVD.

Visually, this movie offers the best views of the picturesque natural beauty of Switzerland. During the 1 hour 48 min running time, it almost feels like I’m watching a travelogue rather than a movie. Ironically, while this movie provides your eyes with breathtaking scenery and shows a few experiences you can add to your bucket list, the essence of it is disheartening. The dialogues could’ve been done in a better way, especially when the mental health issue is the midpoint of the movie’s narrative. Even as someone who doesn’t deal with serious mental issues, I found it depressing, especially the often juxtaposed scenes of emotional disarray of two people strolling across beautiful Swiss landscapes like it’s a sweet romcom. 

Mental health is a sensitive topic to discuss in any medium, especially when it touches on the idea of ending one's life. While this movie attempted to encourage conversation about this topic, with some reminders of self-love, it wasn't being handled with the right amount of sensitivity. Just when I thought there would be a light at the end of the tunnel, the ending turned out to be gloomier than I expected. Tons of beauty shots couldn't save this movie. The way it romanticizes suicide is a bit problematic. It’s frustrating to see the lack of basic research by the filmmakers on the right approach to a sensitive subject.

In terms of acting, Kylie Padilla handles her character and scenes efficiently. Playing a character with such a significant psychological and existential burden is not easy. Gerald Anderson, on the other hand, isn’t really noteworthy. He has his charms, but they fail to impress beyond that. While Kylie and Gerald show a decent chemistry, their intended romantic dialogues sound contrived.

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