Saagar Kote
‘This, That and Everything in Between’ or ‘Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon’ is a Filipino drama film that chronicles the trials and tribulations of Joanne, a TV writer in Manila, the Philippines. She is a woman in her thirties who wishes to excel at her craft and also secure a writer’s fellowship in Brooklyn. Her carefully planned life gets chaotic when her estranged biological mother, Paz, returns to the Philippines without prior intimation. Having spent most of her life without Paz, Jo is overwhelmed by the rapidly changing situation around her.
When the mother and daughter finally meet after 27 years of distance, unresolved emotional issues and matters from the past threaten to upend both their lives. Also part of the equation are Matti, Paz’s son, whom Jo has never heard of, and Jo’s father, Rene. While the family members deal with puzzling situations, their journey gets tougher when Paz makes a startling revelation, which deepens the emotional crisis. SPOILERS AHEAD.
This, That and Everything in Between Plot Synopsis
Joanne, AKA Jo, is a TV writer in Manila, the Philippines, who is calculating if an upcoming workshop in the US could be her big break. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her estranged biological mother, Paz De Los Santos, returns to the country from the US after 27 years. Paz arrives in Manila with her son Matias, AKA Matti, whose existence Jo and the rest of her family are unaware of. Jo’s father, Rene, is now married to a woman named Modesta, AKA Des, whom the TV writer considers her real mother, given how Paz abandoned her long ago. Matti and Paz are welcomed to the latter’s ancestral house in the coastal town of San Rafael by Rene and Des, who now reside there. The father urges Jo to return home and meet her biological mother, but the writer hesitates, fearing that it may affect her emotionally.
Jo is also romantically involved with Migs, her therapist, who tries to help her make a decision. Reluctantly, Jo returns to San Rafael to meet Paz. It is revealed that Paz was once a locally popular actress. The estranged mother and daughter have an awkward reunion. Paz secretly takes pills and hides something from the others, and Matti, who is bipolar, displays strange behavior, triggered by anxiety, which Jo notices. Paz’s aunt, Abby, organizes a party and invites several guests, and it becomes a loud event. Pipo, Paz’s brother, and Stella, her sister, also visit. Jo is taken aback when Migs makes an appearance at the party, too. During a tense dinner, Paz reveals that she has cancer and came home to spend her final days, shocking everyone.
Jo gets into a writer fellowship at Brooklyn, which requires her to develop her own script to confirm her participation. Despite America being her dream, she now hesitates to accept the fellowship because of her biological mother’s health condition. Despite Paz’s refusal, Rene and the rest of the family take her to a local hospital to see if there are inconsistencies in her diagnosis. The doctor informs Jo that her mother has fewer than six months left to live. Stella tells Jo that Paz is not a bad person, but is someone who tends to be very frank about her feelings, which causes others to accuse her of being rude. Migs stays with the family and helps bring in medical equipment for the cancer patient’s care. The sick mother is worried that her daughter is spending excessive money to buy medicines and lashes out at her.
Migs leaves reluctantly, to give Jo the space she needs to come to terms with everything. Matti and his sister have a conversation about their mother and begin to develop a bond. Rene gives Matti a swimming lesson, during which they have a heartfelt talk. Later, Jo talks about her script with Paz, giving her mother an opportunity to reconnect. Paz, Rene, Jo, and Matti go on a boat ride and finally experience some peace and joy. The sick mother’s condition keeps deteriorating, even as the daughter takes care of her. During a family dinner, Paz casually asks everyone to reveal how she will be remembered after death. While the query only leads to jokes, she says that she wants to be remembered as a woman who stood for herself and possibly a good mother, too. Jo laughs at this, calling it nonsensical, and says that Paz is a stranger.
This, That and Everything in Between Ending: Why Does Jo Return to San Rafael? Does She Forgive Paz?
The situation at the dinner table gets tense when Jo refuses to acknowledge that Paz is a good mother and categorizes the sick woman’s opinions about herself as nonsensical. Paz responds by saying that she sacrificed her own acting career and stardom after Jo’s birth, which made her frustrated. The older woman reveals that she took care of the family at difficult times, even helping the elderly. The estranged mother makes it clear that she only left the country and shifted to America to protect her daughter from the harsh realities of life. The mother recognizes that she was not perfect and had to stay away from her daughter to avoid greater misery. The TV writer rejects this view, arguing that Paz was not employable because of her eccentricities and lack of talent.
The daughter also blames her mother for returning to the Philippines solely because of financial hardship, not out of love. An emotional Paz divulges that before dying, she just wanted to see her daughter happy for once. Jo demands that Paz own up to her sins first, rather than try to erase her guilt by using her health as an excuse. The argument between the two women turns more serious when the younger one accuses her mother of flying to America to lead an easier life by marrying another man and giving birth to a son. Paz responds that Jo has no strong morals either because she is sleeping with her therapist, Migs. The older woman also describes her daughter as a narcissist who gets the toxic quality from her family.
After calling her biological mother a loser, an angry and emotionally frustrated Jo decides to go back to Manila and drives back the next morning. After arriving in Manila, Jo realizes she left her phone charger behind and is surprised when Matti shows up at her door to return it. During a conversation between the siblings, the brother reveals that their mother loves both of them, despite her being short-tempered and out of control. He also says that he loves Paz, although she is not perfect. An emotional moment follows when Matti divulges that Paz used to remember Jo regularly in the US and feel sad about leaving her behind. He adds that the mother would stay silent for a while whenever she remembered her daughter. Jo begins to realize that she was quick to judge her mother for her choices.
The next morning, Jo drops Matti off at the bus station to facilitate his return to San Rafael. As her brother waves goodbye in the moving bus, Jo feels a rush of emotions and decides to hop on the bus. Upon reaching her destination, she goes to Paz’s bedroom and hugs her, choosing to spend time with her mother. While Jo may not have completely forgiven Paz for the past, she understands that her mother made her own choices and stuck to her own feelings.
Though Jo still has unresolved issues, she still picks empathy over distance and hatred. The writer’s return to San Rafael seems impulsive, but it highlights her capacity for compassion when it is needed most. The mother and daughter share a difficult relationship, but are both independent women with the emotional capacity to be truthful and to face difficult realities with courage. The mother-daughter relationship between Jo and Paz begins on a confrontational note, but concludes with a touch of humanity and kindness.
Is Paz Dead or Alive? Do Jo and the Family Cope With Her Death?
A few days after Jo’s return to San Rafael, the family gets ready to scatter Paz’s ashes in the sea. While the death occurs offscreen, its impact is felt through the feelings of the other family members. To remember Paz, an emotional Rene and Jo hang a family portrait on the wall. Despite the circumstances, Jo, Rene, Modesta, and Matti stay positive, choosing to celebrate Paz’s legacy, rather than grieve for her. Rene tells his daughter that he deeply loves her and that some wounds of the soul last forever, hinting at Paz’s complex role in their lives. The family then takes the ashes and scatters them in the sea.
They also say a heartfelt prayer for her soul and make sure that they are all smiling, making it a more positive and meaningful experience. Even though this is a difficult moment for all the members of the family, Paz’s death ultimately proves to be a unifying force, bringing everyone together when they need love the most. Jo calmly floats in the water, smiling at the sky, hinting that she has now moved beyond her mother’s memories and will live according to her own terms and pursue whatever appeals to her.
Will Jo Pursue the Fellowship in Brooklyn? What Happens to Matti?
With Paz’s health deteriorating, Jo hesitates to accept the writer’s fellowship offer from Brooklyn. She even informs Ben, the fellowship’s coordinator, that she is busy taking care of her mother. While Ben insists on it being a great opportunity, the TV writer’s uncertainty and insecurities make it an extremely difficult decision for her. When she angrily returns to Manila after arguing with Paz, Jo finally decides to mail a completed script to Ben, indicating that she wants to pursue the fellowship. Ben is delighted and also tells her to fly to Brooklyn next week, and she accepts. Even though her mother’s death occurs a few days later, it is highly likely that Jo will travel to Brooklyn as promised and chase her dreams. She understands the value of listening to her own voice and will do her best to live the best life she can.
As for Matti, he is initially seen by Jo’s family as a strange boy who displays weird behavior. However, the more time they spend with him, the more they realize that he is a kind-hearted boy who just wants a purpose and a sense of belonging. After Paz’s passing, Modesta and Rene treat Matti like a son, embracing both his positives and negatives. With Jo and her brother already having broken the ice, it can be presumed that they will grow closer in the future. Whether or not he stays back in the Philippines or goes back to America is a decision that Matti will have to make after considering all the emotional dynamics that may arise with it. Having faced difficult situations during his mother’s prolonged cancer, the young boy finally finds peace and acceptance.
Do Jo and Migs Get Together?
Migs and Jo grow close during the therapy sessions and are deeply attracted to each other. While Jo is shocked when Migs travels all the way to San Rafael to be with her, she gets intimate with him, furthering their bond. Eventually, with all the difficulties surrounding Paz’s health, Migs decides to help out with the procurement of medical supplies. After this, Migs reluctantly leaves the town, realizing that Jo needs to completely focus on her family. Despite it being a difficult choice, the TV writer watches him leave. After Paz’s death, Jo will presumably contact the therapist and resume their shared journey.
It is established that Migs deeply cares for her, which she is aware of. Although she may travel to Brooklyn for the fellowship, it is highly likely that she will eventually find her way back to Migs. While Paz accused Jo of crossing moral boundaries by sleeping with her therapist, the daughter understands that it is her choice and that she is actually attracted to Migs. The writer and the therapist may ultimately end up together, given the genuine nature of their bond with each other.
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