Sa North Diversion Road - An Analysis

Being an adaptation of a stage play originally written by Tony Perez, Sa North Diversion Road is one of a handful of Filipino films that can make audiences laugh and cry. Its charm comes from its unique storytelling which makes the film more interesting. The story is about a couple having marital problems. But this is the best part, given the one storyline; it is told in different situations, different situations with the same characters only with different personalities. There is only one setting for the film, a car driving along the North Diversion Road.

The film is all about possibilities or the question of “what if?”. Just like what Tony said, it’s all about seeing what happened, what he wished had happened, and if they were different people. The body or the second act of the film is all Tony’s imagination of what would happen if they were different people dealing with the same problem of infidelity. The script does a fine job in defining these different personalities of the characters and these different situations that they are in. Even the dialogue defines the characters that they embody in each and every scene. Certain scenes like “Ang Kabit” which shows that they are both loud-mouthed people who spurt out vulgarity and insults to each other. And the scene “Sala sa Lamig, Salas a Init” which shows that they are both intelligent or, shall I say, geniuses. The acting gave justice to the narrative that the film is trying to employ. The actors, John Arcillia and Irma Adlawan, embodied different personalities in different situations. One scene they can be serious and crying, and then in the next scene we see them laughing and being crazy, then the next scene they are fighting and shouting. The performances are top-notch, given that both actors are accomplished stage performers. It just shows the talent both actors have and that both of them are the centerpiece of this film. Costumes also played an important part in every episode as the costumes also convey the different personalities of the characters in each and every episode. Certain examples are the costumes in the Malolos Exit episode show that both characters are from the province, also in the Bigaa Exit episode where we the costumes matched their personality which is “maarte” as we call it in Filipino, even in the Obando Exit where both characters are wearing black even the girl is wearing leather which makes them both like the people in action movies. Though for most of the scenes, costume played an important part, in the Bocaue Exit episode, costume wasn’t that of an importance. Their clothes weren’t visible in this scene as the scene only concentrates on their faces. Body movement wasn’t important in this scene; it’s the emotions that bring out the personality in both characters. Cinematography was also important in conveying the atmosphere of every scene. The camera movement in the Obando Exit episode felt like a suspense or action movie. It pans from left to right and zooms in and out constantly. Another example of the importance of cinematography was in the Baliuag Exit episode where the scene cuts from angle to angle constantly, the camera shakes a bit, they even used an extreme close up of both character’s mouths, the use of this techniques in cinematography in this scene helps in showing the friction that the couple is experiencing. Music also played in some episodes just like in San Fernando Exit episode, music plays when the wife is suspecting something. We can hear three to five notes when ever the wife is in suspicion, it adds to the drama and the mystery that the wife is experiencing. Also in the Malolos Exit episode, the music sounds provincial which makes us know where they are from and what their personality is.

This film is simply unique. In the expressway, it’s smooth, it’s wide, and it’s bright, no problems according to the characters. Anything can happen in an expressway, there is a story inside every car in the expressway. The thing is that this film is all about love. Love is the central theme of this film as the guy is cheating on his wife. But then he still loves his wife and it shows in every episode. He is guilty of his sin and he wants to make it up with his wife. Every episode is an imagination of the guy as he imagines the possible situations if they were different people. Just like the expressway, every story has a beginning, a body, and an end. Every episode has the same beginning, and body, but every episode ends in different ways.

North Diversion Road has one entrance, one long body, and many exits. The couple’s story is just like the expressway, it started with the relationships, it continues with one body where there is suspicion and then a revelation, but every episode has different endings. This film succeeds in every aspect. Acting is superb and even the writing. As what I’ve written earlier, only a handful of Filipino films have been this unique. This film is something we all could all be proud of. Just like what the film’s song says, “If there are tears in her eyes, and her heart …………….. You should tell her that you love her, that you will go on loving her, in the present and forever.” The guy did just that, and in the end, everything was okay.