Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slow Filipino drama with strong language, mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
I Wish You Had Told Me
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
I WISH YOU HAD TOLD ME follows Seph (Juan Karlos Labajo), a young missionary who learns after his father's death that his dad once fell in love with a Spanish pen pal named Rum (Jaime Garcia). Wanting to understand this hidden part of his father's life, Seph travels to Córdoba in Spain to hand-deliver a letter his father wrote many years earlier. The journey leads him into the truth of his family's past, pushing him to rethink forgiveness, secrecy, and what it means to love someone fully. At the same time, his church back home faces a reckoning when Pastor Leo (Nonie Buencamino), a man who presents himself as a moral guide, is exposed as corrupt and violent, forcing Seph to question the difference between faith and the people who claim to speak for it.
Is It Any Good?
This is a slow, sentimental drama about family secrets, forgiveness, and the weight of intolerance. The story is predictable, and the church subplot with Pastor Leo feels forced, as if the film needed extra drama to validate Seph's journey and his father's identity. The handling of homophobia is heavy-handed, and the pacing may be too slow for teens, while adults have likely seen more nuanced films with similar themes.
The performances are uneven; Labajo is stoic and hard to read, serving more as a cipher than a fully realized character, while Jaime Garcia leans on cranky old man tropes until late in the story when he opens up. The actresses playing Cecil (Rosanna Roces and Yesh Burce) are the real highlight, bringing resilience, authenticity, and a sense of self that gives the movie its emotional life. The film has moments of beauty, especially the architecture and landscapes in Córdoba, but overall it's saccharine, overly sentimental, and never quite earns the emotions it wants the audience to feel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Seph's choices reflect the idea of staying true to your values, even when those values clash with your family or community. What would you do in Seph's place?
What does the film suggest about the impact of intolerance, especially homophobia, on individuals and entire communities?
How do Rum, Cecil, and Seph each show compassion in different ways, and what can we learn from how they support each other?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2025
- Cast : Juan Karlos Labajo , JC Santos , Jaime García
- Director : Shaira Advincula
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Filipino Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s) , Filipino Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads )
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 4, 2025
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