Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon (2026) Movie Review

Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon (2026) Movie Review: Finding Meaning in the Unanswered

Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon (This, That and Everything in Between) is a confounding film. On one hand, its narrative plays with familiar tropes particularly with the sudden return of an estranged mother to her family. On the other hand, it completely breaks expectations with how it reveals (or deliberately doesn't reveal) the real hows and whys behind its characters. It's the kind of film that will likely divide audiences with some appreciating it for being raw and honest while others may find it incomplete and feel shortchanged by its lack of answers. For us, we appreciate what it is trying to accomplish and while imperfect, most of it is both compelling and moving.

Joanne or Jo for short, (Jodi Sta. Maria), is a TV writer who has built a successful life for herself after her mother left her almost three decades ago. But her carefully constructed world begins to unravel when her estranged mother, Paz (Agot Isidro) suddenly resurfaces with a secret that changes everything. Can Jo finally find the answers to the questions that have haunted her since she was just 10 years old?

We're not really in a position to say that we fully understood the struggles of each main character in Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon. What we do know is that both are complicated and deeply layered characters portrayed spectacularly by Jodi Sta. Maria and Agot Isidro. The two veteran actors' lack of chemistry is actually perfect because, despite being related, Jo and Paz barely know each other. Jo's stoicism and Paz's blunt straightforwardness become the perfect vehicles for the emotional tension that eventually reaches a boiling point near the film's end. 

However, some viewers may be surprised by how incomplete Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon feels by the time the credits roll. The film takes an unconventional approach to its narrative, never fully explaining or resolving everything. We get glimpses into why Paz left and why she has suddenly returned but we never learn the complete story behind either character. And obviously that's intentional. The film reflects real life, where sometimes we simply act, love, and forgive without having all the answers because, in some cases, it feels like the right thing to do. And perhaps the small understanding that Jo (and we as the audience gain) is enough to realize that Paz isn't the evil mother she initially appears to be. There is something pure and raw about that realization. 

Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon may leave some viewers wanting more, but for us, its willingness to embrace uncertainty is also what makes it special. It may not provide all the answers but understanding someone doesn't necessarily mean knowing everything about them.

Rating: 3 and a half reels