Beautifully well-made, Jun Lana's Die Beautiful portrays the LGBTQ+ (especially the trans) in a humanizing way. It offered some laughs along the way, but the film also wasn't afraid to go into more serious and dark territories. Paolo Ballesteros gave an amazing performance as the lead, as well as Christian Bables in the supporting role. The non-linear narrative was compelling enough, showing the daily triumphs and struggles (told in a form of short vignettes) of a Filipino trans woman. It's quiet moving at some parts. The film ended beautifully too.

I was initially disappointed by the narrative, because of how "incomplete" each segment felt. But when I saw Jun Lana's explanation -- that the narrative was structured like a eulogy, hence the episodic nature -- it made more sense. What we're seeing are fragments of memories of a person, of Trisha. For me, it's less of a conventional narrative and more of a character study. It works better that way.

Paolo Ballesteros is the most beautiful human being I've ever seen. Christian Bables deserves the world.

This world would be a better place if only we all had our own Barbs.

ang ganda girl kaso dapat hindi na nila pinakita yung rape scene. ang haba masydo at hindi na kailangan ipakita ulit sa pov nung rapist.

After Trisha, a transgender beauty queen, dies suddenly her best friend decides to make her up as a different famous beautiful woman each night of her wake. Through flashbacks, we learn exactly who Trisha was and the trials and tribulations that made her. 

I had expected this to be very light and while there are many cute and funny moments, the story itself is actually very complex, with some tragic scenes concerning the treatment of gays and transgender women. In the Q and A, the director said he wanted the film to have the feeling of a eulogy paying tribute to the character and that was certainly achieved. 

Paulo Bellesteros gave a beautiful performance as Trisha. Tonight was the film's world premiere, and he was very emotional when he came onstage as this was his first time to see the film. 

Seen at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2016

my faith in filipino lgbtq+ cinema has been ultimately restored by the mere existence of this film. tangina ang ganda. paolo ballesteros at christian bables, ang gagaling niyo. jun lana, halimaw ka! napaiyak ako

Die Beautiful is a gender sensitive local film with an out-of-the-box LGBT plot and fresh storytelling. Paolo Ballesteros delivered well, aided by a career molding role for Christian Bables. Inspired, and with equal parts charming, fun and compelling, Die Beautiful is a success for the LGBT community. Gladys Reyes playing a kind role is refreshing too.
However, the rape scene is way too long and needlessly graphic, and could definitely trigger a person who underwent a similar nightmare.

Philippines cinema delivering so many gay themed films these days. At times it feels like every pinoy movie is trans-gender heavy. And most of the relases are vulgar abysmal comedies. However once in a while a quality films turns up and Die Beautiful (2016) is one of the good ones. More toned down than the outrage that are mainstream pinoy cinema, yet still a celebration of the colorful bakla culture, and with a personal touch. Feels a little glossed, even with the tragic side of things, but there is a heart in this project. Funny, sweet and with solid performances, which earned it a few awards internationally. Gives a good impression of the Philippines take on trans-gender life.

I've seen a handful of Filipino films trying to capture the LGBT rhythm and sense, but Lana nailed it in helming colorful characters spiraling the life and love of a curious character. Ballesteros gave an outstanding persona. And the whole escapade is an elaborate homage (I guess) to Almodovar, but in subtle tones of Farhadi. B+

Truly beautiful. I'm incredibly thankful that MMFF is screening movies like this one this year.

The only thing that was missing for me was closure between Trisha and her dad. I wish they didn't cut out the scene where the dad stormed into the funeral parlor. The cops, the reality check, the quiet tension—good stuff.

watched this with my kinda homophobic mom, everytime the dad appears,, i make these little comments loljfhfjfjfjfj BUT ANYWAY, i really love this movie.

I loved the story but the structure felt a little arbitrary, with only a handful of the wake outfits really connecting with the stories that followed them. Still, the drama of Trisha's life feels almost like an epic in scope, one that presents the tragic and the hilarious with a skillful balance. The performances resonated well and feel fully lived-in.

so raw. so bold. so beautiful. the film did not hold back and to be honest, it deserves an Oscar award for doing so.

the feelings that this movie provoked was due to the perfect casting and the mix of comedy and tragedy in the script. i also enjoy so much when i notice consistent themes throughout a film such as the idea of changing or staying true to your self. the sequencing of the film was not in chronological order but random which was an effective and fresh detour from traditional storytelling and showcased the characters' growth clearly.

as a Filipino, i was really taken aback by the whole story as well as the visualization of it because there are not a lot of masterpieces like this in our country and that should be a crime. there was familiarity through this film but at the same time, it felt like you were introduced to a new world.

ofc a jun lana film

Grabe naman. Yun lang ma-si-say ko.

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

One thing that I like about this movie is the series of flashbacks. The editing is good since I was not lost while watching the whole film even though there were lots of flashbacks to explore the joys and heartbreaks of Trisha.

The message of the film is also on point that our body is an expression of our power to choose, of our empowerment.

brilliant performances! may mga kulang sa plot or di na expound, pero keri lang.

I'm loving Jun Robles Lana more and more as I watch his films.

Being foretold through flashbacks and a non-linear narrative, the film allows us to look back into the ups and downs in Trisha's life. Paolo Ballesteros and Christian Bables were able to elevate the film with their stellar performances. Even with Joel Torre as the asshole father.

The film is empowering for transgender women. They deserve the respect and care. Everyone can be a father or a mother but not everyone can act like one. Trisha becomes the mother to Shirley Mae. But the main focus of the film is what Trisha's gone through from the struggles to the rise as a beauty queen. 

The overall feel that Luna and screenwriter Rody Vera brought on screen is both moving and charming.

PUTANGINA TALAGA NG MGA LALAKE APAKASASAHOL NIYO pakyu kayong lahat