A remake of the 2018 South Korean film of the same name, Keys to the Heart never really seems like it comes together as a thematic whole. In its bid to be a modest slice of life—as a story that just happens to feature boxing and classical music amid family conflict—its separate parts wind up feeling underdeveloped. So despite admirable work from its cast and big emotional moments that are treated with a surprising level of sensitivity, there’s always a sense that the film is constantly trying to be a soap opera instead of simply being a messier, more organic thing.
Troubled and alone, a boxer moves in with his long-lost mother and autistic pianist brother — but must fit in with a family he hasn't known for years.
Down on his luck, a boxer learns to swallow his pride when he moves in with his estranged mother and autistic brother.
Zanjoe Marudo is excellent in the lead role, riding the line between macho and insecure, with a real talent for welling up with tears in a convincing way. But it's really Dolly de Leon who stands out most—imbuing within her character a deeper sense of personal history, and a desperation to hold on to all the different parts of her family while she still can. After her international breakthrough role in Ruben Östlund's Triangle of Sadness, de Leon expressed how much she wanted to move away from bit parts and one-liner cameos given to character actors. This is now her fourth truly substantial role in 2023 alone, and it seems like her star isn't going to stop rising any time soon.
After Triangle of Sadness, Dolly de Leon really is the captain of Philippine cinema now.
