In the age of the internet and instant gratification, there has always been a judgement on how effortless courtship has become. “Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi” subtlety plays with this concept and so much more. It’s a film that not only tackles the obsessive and constant need to be bombarded by technology but more so friendship, courtship, familial and unconditional love all wrapped up in a neat and slick package.
When Aries (Jameson Blake) first laid eyes on Norma (Sue Ramirez), it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, Aries soon finds out that Norma is actually the girlfriend of his brother Leo (Markus Paterson). Aries, the ever-loving brother, accepts that he has lost the girl of his dreams and finds ways to support his brother’s deficiencies as a boyfriend. One fateful day, Norma collapses and finds out that she has a condition called Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) that makes hypersensitive to any electronic gadget. She is forced to go to her grandmother’s house in the province to heal herself. How can she, Aries, and Leo manage in a long-distance relationship without any signal, technology, or WiFi?
As a typical teen romance film goes, “Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi” presents a narrative that feels familiar but also at the same time new. There are elements that audiences may find predictable like the film’s climax but the unusual dilemma that the film’s protagonists have to deal with brought a lot of charm and much needed quirkiness. The concept of EHS may be silly but it also gave the film a central core that is ultimately relatable in the context of social media and the internet in general. The film was able to present the true important things in life and in any relationship, it’s never the amount of digital likes or comments, but more importantly the actual quality time we spend with our loved ones. Beyond this, the film was able to seamlessly integrate other conflicts into the mix like the brotherly love and rivalry between brothers, parental love, and a whole lot more. This is a well-rounded film with subtle social commentaries that have been integrated well into its plot. The actors themselves had great chemistry and suited their characters well. Finally, the film is beautifully shot and made even more enjoyable with its soundtrack. Overall, “Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi” completely surprised us with what it had to show and say. It’s timely, it’s relatable, and it’s jam-packed emotional.
