Hello, Love, Goodbye


Hello, Love, Goodbye is a 2019 Philippine romantic drama film directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and produced by Star Cinema. The film follows Joy Fabregas, a struggling overseas Filipino worker, and Ethan Del Rosario, a bartender, as they attempt to reconcile their personal careers and love for each other in Hong Kong. Released on July 31, 2019 in the Philippines, the film is the highest grossing Philippine film.

Synopsis

Joy is a spunky, poor millennial who works as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. While she excels in her job and enjoys the friendship of many other empowered domestic helpers, she plans to leave the city soon.
In her journey to achieving her goals, Joy meets Filipino bartender Ethan. Ethan is a sweetheart playboy already building a permanent life in Hong Kong. In a few years, he will officially become a resident in the city. After escaping responsibilities all his life, Ethan now wants to commit to a career and to his family. Joy and Ethan soon develop a friendship. The two become each other's joy against the grime and grind of Hong Kong.

Cast

Main

A nursing graduate who works as a domestic helper in Hong Kong.
The film is starred by Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards who are affiliated with the two major rival networks in the Philippines; Bernardo with ABS-CBN and Richards with GMA Network. The two also belongs to two different "love teams", Bernardo who is collectively known as Kathniel with Daniel Padilla and Richards with Maine Mendoza in AlDub. Together they play two Overseas Filipino Workers in Hong Kong who became romantically involved with each other. Directory Cathy Garcia-Molina said that the two main cast members were not subjected to "baby or special treatment" for the film project.
Filming for Hello, Love, Goodbye in Hong Kong has began by April 2019 and was completed after a month Principal photography for the film ended by May 19, 2019 in Sucat, Parañaque. Post-production work for Hello, Love, Goodbye was done in Bangkok, Thailand with ABS-CBN Film Productions collaborating with Thai production firm Kantana Group. It was the first collaboration between the two firms.

Release

Marketing

A teaser for Hello, Love, Goodbye was released on June 14, 2019 while the official full trailer for was released by Star Cinema on July 1, 2019.

Theatrical run

Hello, Love, Goodbye premiered in the Philippines on July 31, 2019 in 465 cinemas, a record. The international screenings started on August 1, 2019. The film also made history in Saudi Arabia as the first Filipino film ever to be screened in the cinemas of Jeddah.

Reception

Box office

The film was declared the highest-grossing film of all time after earning over worldwide gross revenue on September 3, 2019, replacing the film The Hows of Us that was also directed by Molina and starred by Bernardo.

Domestic

The film on its opening day earned a total of from over 350 cinemas in the Philippines. Three days after its local release, the film was reported to have earned. After four days, the film earned and was shown in 465 cinemas nationwide. As of August 12, 2019, the film has grossed domestically in 13 days of showing. After 17 days in cinemas, the film has grossed domestically.

International

The film earned in box office receipts abroad on its first week of release. The film was also recognized now the highest-grossing Filipino film in the Middle East for earning over as of August 18. It is also the highest-grossing Filipino film in Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom earning over, and respectively.

Critical response

Filipino film critic Philbert Dy gave the film a rating of 4 out of 5 and praised Bernardo's performance. Oggs Cruz, writing for Rappler, reviewed the film thus, "Hello, Love, Goodbye is fine entertainment – one that doesn’t dumb down the issues it puts forward for the sake of a standard happy ending." He pointed out that while the romantic plot was formulaic and characters seemed to have become stereotypical, the film's strengths were its depiction of Hong Kong through the female protagonist's perspective and of the struggles of overseas Filipino workers as domestic helpers. In his review, Armando B. Chavez of Philippine Daily Inquirer said that the love story stood out due to the "backdrop of the plight of OFWs in Hong Kong." He also praised the musical editing, the close-up shots of the protagonists, and performances of Bernardo and Richards, describing them as tour de force. He wrote, "This is a date movie if ever there’s one. As they say back home, “just feel the feeling.” Sit back, secretly dab the tears away... resistance is futile."
Ricky Lo of The Philippine Star gave a generally positive review of the film particularly the comic relief provided by Abella, Bautista, and Entrata. Tito Genova Valiente however disagreed and considered the trio's performances as "aggravating" while praising Bernardo and Richard, stating, "There is Bernardo with perhaps the quietest performance for any actress of her generation. Bernardo can act within a small frame, holding her face solidly as if a slight movement will mar that portrayal... Alden gets the cinematographic love, as well. His Ethan starts fun and ends tragic but with lots of hope, even if it does not matter what happens to that hope. When those tears fall from Richards's eyes, they bring us back to those old, old cinemas of leading men looking beautiful and strong in grief.

Possible sequel

On August 1, 2019, during the opening week of the film, lead actor Alden Richards and director Cathy Garcia-Molina expressed openness on working on a sequel for the film despite the latter's confirming plans to retire from directing to focus on her family. On August 26, 2019, lead actress Kathryn Bernardo has also expressed similar sentiments on doing a sequel for the film.

Novel adaptation

A novel adaptation written of Hello, Love, Goodbye, authored by Palanca awardee Charmaine Lasar and published under ABS-CBN Books, was released on August 26, 2019. The novel also include additional narration on the backstory of Joy, about her life in the Philippines prior to moving to Hong Kong and an epilogue which was not depicted in the film. Behind-the-scenes information, and on-set photos are also included in the novel.

Television release

The film premiered on television on KBO from December 13–17, 2019. It also aired again on the second week from December 20–25, 2019, along with the television premiere of Indak, and on the third week from December 27 – January 1, 2020, along with the television premiere of iWant Original Movie, Mga Mata sa Dilim. The film premiered on Cinema One on March 15, 2020.

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2019AACTA AwardsBest Asian FilmHello, Love, Goodbye
20201st Village Pipol Choice AwardsMovie of the YearHello, Love, Goodbye
20201st Village Pipol Choice AwardsMovie Actor of the YearAlden Richards
20201st Village Pipol Choice AwardsMovie Actress of the YearKathryn Bernardo
202051st Box Office Entertainment AwardsPhenomenal Star of Philippine CinemaAlden Richards
202051st Box Office Entertainment AwardsPhenomenal Star of Philippine CinemaKathryn Bernardo
202051st Box Office Entertainment AwardsFilm Actor of the YearAlden Richards
202051st Box Office Entertainment AwardsFilm Actress of the YearKathryn Bernardo
202051st Box Office Entertainment AwardsMost Popular Film ScreenwriterCarmi RaymundoRona GoCathy Garcia-Molina
202051st Box Office Entertainment AwardsMost Popular Film DirectorCathy Garcia-Molina
20204th GEMS Hiyas ng Sining AwardsBest Mainstream FilmHello, Love, Goodbye
20204th GEMS Hiyas ng Sining AwardsBest Mainstream Film DirectorCathy Garcia-Molina
20204th GEMS Hiyas ng Sining AwardsBest ActorAlden Richards
20204th GEMS Hiyas ng Sining AwardsBest ActressKathryn Bernardo
20204th GEMS Hiyas ng Sining AwardsBest Supporting ActorJoross Gamboa
20201st Paragon Critics' Choice AwardsBest PictureHello, Love, Goodbye
20201st Paragon Critics' Choice AwardsBest DirectorCathy Garcia-Molina
20201st Paragon Critics' Choice AwardsBest ActressKathryn Bernardo
20201st Paragon Critics' Choice AwardsBest ScreenplayCarmi RaymundoRona CoCathy Garcia-Molina
20201st Paragon Critics' Choice AwardsBest EditingMarya Ignacio
202018th Gawad TanglawBest Supporting ActorJoross Gamboa
202018th Gawad TanglawPresidential Jury AwardAlden Richards
202018th Gawad TanglawPresidential Jury AwardKathryn Bernardo
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest PictureHello, Love, Goodbye
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest DirectorCathy Garcia-Molina
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest ActorAlden Richards
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest ActressKathryn Bernardo
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest Supporting ActorJoross Gamboa
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest Supporting ActressLovely Abella
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest StoryCarmi Raymundo
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest ScreenplayCarmi RaymundoRona CoCathy Garcia-Molina
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest CinematographyNoel Teehankee
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest EditingMarya Ignacio
202022nd Gawad PasadoBest Musical ScoreJessie Lasaten
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest PictureHello, Love, Goodbye
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest DirectorCathy Garcia-Molina
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest ActressKathryn Bernardo
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBreakthrough PerformanceAlden Richards
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest Ensemble PerformanceHello, Love, Goodbye
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest ScreenplayCarmi RaymundoRona CoCathy Garcia-Molina
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest CinematographyNoel Teehankee
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest Production DesignNorico Santos
20201st Gawad Pelikula FilipinasBest Musical ScoreJessie Lasaten