“Third World Romance” starring real-life couple Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon veers away from the usual rom-com formula featuring rich and poor antagonists. Instead, it navigates through the lens of ordinary people who struggle between love and survival.

Here are three reasons why Britney (Charlie) and Alvin’s (Carlo) love story is worth watching at the cinemas in the words of “Third World Romance” director Dwein Ruedas Baltazar.

A refreshing workplace kilig and romance

The film takes the unusual route to feature relatable characters—a raketero and a raketera—and their love story that blossoms at the supermarket where they work.

“Kung minsan nagsasawa na ako na yung mga protagonist na napapanood ko ay nasa boardroom lang sila, nagpre-present ng kung anu-ano. So lagi ang trigger points ko ano ba yung trabaho na kaya kong hawakan na malapit sa akin,” said the director who chose a grocery cashier and a bagger as the center of the love story presented in the movie.

A fun take on everyday money struggles

“Third World Romance” zeroes in on the plight of the working class but does not romanticize their situation. Instead, the film makes it fun yet realistic. “I’ve always wanted to do a narrative na mall tapos saleslady yung bida kasi growing up meron akong mga pinsan na saleslady tapos ang ganda, para silang mga fairy sa akin. Yung make-up nila lipstick lang na blush on na pang-mata,” recounted Direk Dwein.

The movie also tackles the usual money problems of the masses. “Pagkakataon na para sumentro tayo dun sa masa. Paano tayo magku-kwento ng pag-ibig ng masa kung iiwasan natin yung kinakalaban nila. So ano ba yung kalaban ng masa? It’s pera, kahirapan, at hindi tayo magti-tiptoe dun,” she added.

A modern family setup

The film puts a modern family in the spotlight but makes it typical, with Iyah Mina playing the role of a transwoman who is also the biological dad of Alvin.

“Dadatnan mo na yung mga characters ko living sa ganung ka-normal na environment kasi ako as a storyteller, yun ang gusto kong itawid, normal ito. Hindi na ito big deal,” said Direk Dwein.

Don’t miss the unfolding of Britney and Alvin’s love story in “Third World Romance,” now showing in cinemas nationwide. For film updates, follow Black Sheep on Facebook @BlackSheepABSCBN, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter @black_sheepph, and YouTube @BlackSheepPH and Anima on their social media accounts @animastudiosph.

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