Anita's Last Cha-Cha

Anita's Last Cha-Cha (Filipino: Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita) is a 2013 Philippine independent coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo in her feature film directorial debut. Set in the province of Bulacan, the story follows a 12-year-old tomboyish girl who falls in love with an older woman who returned to the village after working overseas. It stars Angel Aquino and Therese Malvar in her introductory role, and features Marcus Madrigal, Solomon Mark De Guzman, and Lenlen Frial in supporting roles.

Produced by Quiapost Productions, Ekweytor MC, and Pixeleyes Multimedia, in association with Unitel Pictures, the film was released on 18 September 2013, as one of the entries for the 1st CineFilipino Film Festival. It was commercially released in the Philippines on 16 June 2017 after four years of screenings at local and international film festivals.

Anita is a 12-year-old girl who lives in the village where they adored the saints of Obando with her widowed mother, who sells mussel chips, and older cousin, as well as her friends, Goying and Carmen. One day, much to the village folks' resentment, a mysterious older woman named Pilar returns from her work in the United Arab Emirates following her father's death. The reason for the resentment is that Pilar had an illegal abortion.

Years after Pilar's disappearance, Anita grew up and followed her late father's footsteps as an officer in the Philippine Army.

The screenplay was written in 2006 by the film's writer and director, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, and it took eight years for the producers to approve it.^[1] According to the filmmaker, the MTRCB initially gave the movie an "X" rating, likely due to its homosexual undertones or obvious references to pedophilia. However, it was reclassified to an R-16 rating, following a successful appeal to the censor board by her and the festival organizers.^[2]

Marra Lanot, writing for The Philippine Star, gave praise to the film's subtle and sincere depiction of a young girl's lesbian awakening. She also praised its gentle, nonviolent approach and pointed out how it differs from other Filipino films that focus on male homosexuality. She also highlighted the film's rural location, organic performances, and skillful use of dance, music, and cinematography to enhance its subdued plot.^[3]

Heinrich Domingo, writing for Cinetactic, gave a very positive review with a rating of 4.5/5. He praised the coming-of-age narrative and the exploration of adolescent sexuality. He praised the film's lighthearted yet meaningful treatment of serious themes, as well as its countryside setting and expressive performances. Its restrained storytelling and emotional sincerity were also praised, citing a departure from more standard or harshly portrayed depictions of marginalized identities in Philippine cinema.^[4]

• Anita's Last Cha-Cha at IMDb