Who doesn’t want to cuddle or stay in bed this rainy season? Despite the heavy rains and floods, nothing stopped me from watching the movie ‘Cuddle Weather’.

It got me hooked right from the start with its funny hugot lines and aesthetically pleasing visuals in the trailer.

‘Cuddle Weather’ is a PPP or Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino entry and on its 3rd year of showing quality indie films for the masses. The movie was produced by Project 8 productions who also brought us Never Not Love You and Alone Together. I knew that it would be a good film from the start.

‘Cuddle Weather’ is a film about two prostitutes, Adela (Sue Ramirez) and Ram ( RK Bagatsing), as they go into the emotions and highs and lows of being a sex worker.

5 Things I Learned from the Movie ‘Cuddle Weather’

5. Both love and sex are risky.

When it comes to love, most of us are no longer a virgin. At some point in our lives, we have fallen in love and have loved someone. Since no one has the 100% protection that we need to protect ourselves, what we usually do is run from love. We guard ourselves to the point of seclusion. It’s not a bad thing to protect ourselves from getting hurt, after all.

 

But you see, you won’t experience the raw feelings of love if you don’t take a risk. Even when it comes to sex, wearing a condom doesn’t guarantee 100% protection. There’s always a risk, but you might as well wear one then regret it. True love waits.

Some of us have different opinions or beliefs when it comes to love, but the best kind of love is the one that loves you for who you are.

 4. Cuddles and hugs are a love language.

I’m a touchy-feely person and I love hugging people to feel assured and safe. Scientifically, there are many benefits of a cuddle or a hug. For example, it releases oxytocin, a hormone that promotes bonding and love between two people.

There’s a scene in the movie where Adela’s mother hugs her tightly before she leaves, and it brought me to tears since we all want to be hugged and feel assured. It reminded me that nothing beats a mother’s love.

In an era where sex and one night stands run rampant, we tend to forget to be emotionally in tune with ourselves. Giving a hug or assurance to our loved ones is something we should do often nowadays.

3. It’s never too late for a fresh start in life.

Adela struggles with her identity and is determined to leave the industry after nine years. Just like Adela, you’ve probably been unhappy with who you’ve become.

 

Most people want to move on from a bad past or regain themselves after being broken. I felt that one line when Adela had a breakdown and said: “Wala naman naniniwala na kaya ko”. [No one believes that I can do it.]

We all know that starting from scratch is hard, but we also know that being stagnant is terrifying. All we need is courage and faith to live and be the best versions of ourselves.

2. I learned about the relationship between society and prostitution.

Prostitution is said to be one of the oldest professions. To this day, some people become sex workers due to poverty or kumakapit sa patalim to survive everyday. Ram is one of those people. He became a sex worker after failing to become a seaman and entered the sex industry to provide for his family.

It made me think about other individuals who go to work everyday just to get the basic needs to survive such as food, shelter, and clothes.

There’s a scene where Adela says, “Baka naman puwede tayong magpahinga kahit isang araw .” [Maybe we can rest for at lest a day.] To which Ram says, “Alam mo naman na di nagpapahinga ang mga gastusin.” [You know that expenses don’t rest.]

Just like them, I remember one friend who said that we’re all prostitutes selling our bodies for work. If you’re a writer, you sell your mind and hands to write. If you’re a radio host, you sell your voice. If you’re a dancer, you sell your body to entertain.

We are all selling some parts of our body to survive. Working and earning money are hard; and in this modern age where being more and #goals is the trend, a lot of people have become workaholics.

1. People are judgmental, and society kills.

In the film, Adela struggles with the harsh judgment of other people in her community or her clients due to her profession. No matter what your profession is; you are still a human who gets hurt at the end of the day. Judging other people from the outside kills us from the inside. Nobody wants to feel unwanted or misunderstood, especially by the people around us.

Kindness is a gift we can pass on. Instead of judging others based on what you see, try to think about what they’re going through. In the film, Adela feels isolated and lonely until Ram comes along and sees her as more than what other people see.

In the movie industry, sex sells; but this movie sells morality. It taught me a lot of things that I sometimes forget. It taught me to be more in touch with my identity and be more connected with the people around me.

This is a harsh reality, and what I love about local indie films. In indie films, there are no filters and there’s an abundance of creativity and wise themes behind every movie. ‘Cuddle Weather’ is no exception.

So get your sweater on and cuddle with your loved ones more often this rainy season. Sometimes, staying in is good and remember that there’s more to life than work and travel goals.