Nathan Studios’ adaptation of Picnic into Filipino for Mother’s Day 2025 is a thoughtful alternative to the usual seasonal releases. Instead of presenting another emotional drama built around familiar tropes, the studio chose a South Korean independent film known for its restraint and emotional honesty.
“When we got this film, we only had the trailer. We weren’t able to see the whole movie, so it was a gamble based on gut feeling. We’re happy we made that choice because we’re proud to have this film in our lineup,” producer and Nathan Studios head Sylvia Sanchez said during the film’s celebrity premiere at Gateway Cinema.
Originally directed by Kim Yong-gyun, Picnic succeeded in South Korea’s art-house circuit and earned recognition for its portrayal of aging, memory, and relationships. The Filipino-language version, led by Ces Quesada, Nova Villa, and Bodjie Pascua, follows the same story, but its local cast brings a new layer of cultural context and emotional rhythm.
Ces Quesada leads the ensemble as Eun-sim, a woman confronting the emotional weight of her past. Her performance is measured, allowing space for silence and weariness. Nova Villa plays Geum-soon, Eun-sim’s childhood friend, with a calm presence that holds the screen. Bodjie Pascua gives depth to Tae-ho, a man whose quiet life is interrupted by long-suppressed feelings.
Eun-sim, a woman grappling with the emotional burden
of her past
Geum-soon, Eun-sim’s childhood friend
Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra portray the younger versions of Eun-sim and Tae-ho.
of Eun-sim
The Filipino-language version does not attempt to overdramatize. It resists the urge to modernize or localize beyond what’s necessary. Instead, it allows its actors to explore the material through cultural nuance
“We are offering something that feels recognizably Filipino without altering the story’s raw emotion,” Nova Villa said in the vernacular.
Themes such as care for the elderly, estrangement, and friendship in later years are approached with restraint. There are no sweeping resolutions or heightened confrontations. What emerges instead is a quiet rhythm of regret, memory, and the need to reconnect — something universal across all cultures and generations.
Nathan Studios has been known for taking risks in casting and format. With Picnic, the risk lies in simplicity. The film is slow, deliberate, and modest in its ambitions. But that’s precisely what makes it feel honest. The film trusts the story and lets the actors bring out their emotions naturally.
As a Mother’s Day offering, Picnic avoids grand gestures and instead focuses on small truths: how relationships stretch and fade, how care is expressed in silence, and how time both damages and heals.
Picnic is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
