It is the love Carmina (Dawn Zulueta) and Gabriel (Richard Gomez) share which builds the foundation for Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (Reyna Films, Inc., 1991), Carlos Siguion-Reyna's tale of broken promises made and revenge exacted. Carmina’s heart is broken and filled with sorrow. It has weakened her. She no longer has any will to live. Feeling the intense power of her love and pain, death is the only ending to quiet her longings and broken heart. It was her own doing, breaking Gabriel’s heart first, then abandoning him for propriety, to live in her virtuous life of dullness, leading her to marry Alan (Eric Quizon) and the abandonment of her soul when she leaves Gabriel behind. The life she chooses is one that is hollow. Her dreams with Gabriel were broken with her heart. When Gabriel returns several years later with a moderate fortune, he marries Alan’s sister, Sandra (Jackie Lou Blanco) for spite. Nearing the end for Carmina, Gabriel arrives at her death bed. They share a loving moment, as he holds her up, speaking softly with love in their voices just before she dies in his arms. Love is more important than any tangible riches or objects of wealth. Let the heart be filled with love. Live for life not for the shackles that destroy the soul.
Showing the destruction that comes from not following one’s heart, Hihintayin Kita sa Langit begins with the growing attraction of friendship and love between Carmina and Gabriel. It also shows the class struggle between Gabriel and Carmina’s brother Milo (Michael de Mesa). Their father, Don Joaquin (Jose Mari Avellana) found the young boy on his travels. He took him off the street, bringing him home to be part of their family. But Milo was not generous of spirit like his father and Carmina. He felt it was within his rights to degrade Gabriel whenever the hatred turned in him. He tried to whip Gabriel into submission, but it would never happen. Milo is a weakling, whereas Gabriel has inner fire. No one had the power to break him except Carmina. When Milo feels he has the right to lord it over Gabriel, as so many today feel they have been blessed with the power to rule over people, you know there will never be equality. The human race is too ingrained with prejudice, class superiority and inferiority, and the unjust. That really hasn’t changed. Carmina had the power. She had two separate worlds in which to choose where she wanted to be and with whom she wanted to be. Carmina thought she wanted the dress-up world with Alan, but she hid from herself as much as she longed for the Carmina who was wild with abandon and filled with love. It is what drove them apart. Her vanity and broken promises from childhood and Gabriel not being the perfect gentleman that Carmina desired him to be, instead he was the outcast and the reject, a stranger in a strange land.
This sparkling new 1080p transfer present the film in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio for the first time on home video, but the level of clarity, detail and texture on display here is like watching a brand new film. Depth is outstanding and the film's particular color palette is represented perfectly, while a natural layer of film grain is present to remind us that excessive digital noise reduction hasn't been performed. The image is smooth and extremely natural, which will undoubtedly please long-time fans, it's been said before, but it's likely that Hihintayin Kita sa Langit hasn't looked this good since its original theatrical run. I'd say it looks even better, but for now this absolutely flawless transfer is reason enough to revisit the movie. Audio rarely gets equal praise in comparison to a crisp visual upgrade after all, screen captures are easier to share. What we get here stays true to the source, with most of the action spread widely across the front channels. It's an effective presentation that really gives the film a lot of charm, as the crystal clear dialogue and effects are balanced nicely with occasional music cues that don't fight for attention. Hihintayin Kita sa Langit simply captures a specific period in Filipino film history that a sizable chunk of audiences will always remember fondly. There's a lot to live up to here and this brand new restoration absolutely steps up to the plate, delivering a landmark audio and video presentation.
Production Design: Joey Luna
Sound Supervision: Gaudencio Barredo
Music: By: Ryan Cayabyab
Photographed By: Romy Vitug
Screenplay: Raquel Villavicencio
Directed By: Carlos Siguion-Reyna
