"Is dying alone really as lonely as they say?"
(C) Puregold
It's a fascinating question presented in the trailer for CinePanalo 2026 entry Mono no Aware. Beyond the question itself, film director BC Amparado reveals to CBO that the initial concept came from a mix of different inspirations and what-ifs.
"But if I remember correctly, the main question I had in mind was: How can we Filipinos, a very social and family-oriented people, find our place in a society where silence, independence, and solitude can become such an ordinary part of everyday life?" he expounds.
In the film, in Japan’s quiet apartments, a Filipino kodokushi cleaner meets an elderly widower who asks him for one final favor before he dies. What begins as a promise becomes a quiet story of grief, family, and accepting life’s impermanence.
Kodokushi, or “lonely death,” is a phenomenon in which an individual dies alone and without anyone caring for them, with their body only being discovered after a certain period of time.
Dedicated to his late uncle who became an OFW in Japan, Amparado developed an admiration for aspects of Japanese culture that value "discipline, independence, and respect for personal space." At the same time, he also became interested in the loneliness and isolation that can exist alongside these values.
In an interesting contrast, Filipinos are often called resilient as we find ways to stay happy even in times of crisis. "But sometimes, we become so used to being resilient that we forget to ask whether the crisis itself has been resolved," director BC reflects.
Undoubtedly, the film talks about loneliness and impermanence. "Like its title, Mono no Aware is the quiet sadness that comes from becoming aware that something is going to end," he adds.
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| (C) Puregold |
Nonetheless, Amparado hopes that after watching the movie, audiences will feel like calling a friend, answering a phone call from a loved one, or telling their parents, “I love you.”.
"I want people to knock on closed doors, reach out to others, and appreciate the people in their lives while they are still here," he expands. "[Mono no Aware] is an invitation to stay in the moment, count your blessings, and be thankful for what you have while you still have it."
Perhaps there is beauty in the sadness of knowing that nothing is permanent. "Because sometimes, that is exactly what reminds us how special the things in front of us really are."
