Watch Born Beautiful

Born Beautiful is a 2019 Filipino comedy-drama film directed by Perci Intalan and starring Paolo Ballesteros, Martin del Rosario, and VJ Mendoza. The movie serves as a sequel to the 2016 hit film Die Beautiful. The film follows the story of Barbs Cordero, a famous transgender beauty queen who is aging and dealing with personal struggles. Barbs feels as if everyone is using her and wants to be left alone, but when she meets a young man named Prince, she is forced to confront her fears and the challenges of her own identity.

Paolo Ballesteros reprises his role as Barbs, who is now living her life post-gender reassignment surgery. She still works as a funeral make-up artist, but her passion for beauty pageants has faded. Instead, she now spends her days taking care of her best friend, Trisha's son, and mourning the loss of her boyfriend, who died in an accident.

Martin del Rosario plays Barbs' protégé and heir Prince, a young make-up artist who dreams of becoming a beauty queen like her mentor. Prince's goals in life are to make it big in the pageant world and transform himself into a stunning woman like Barbs. But when Barbs disappears from his life, Prince must navigate his way through the harsh realities of life as a transgender person alone.

VJ Mendoza rounds out the cast as Trinity, a schoolmate of Prince who struggles with his own gender identity. Trinity is there to provide support to Prince when he needs it and adds an additional layer of depth to the movie. His role is critical in showcasing the challenges that young transgender individuals face while growing up in a society that often neglects them.

The acting in this movie is phenomenal, with Paolo Ballesteros playing the role of Barbs to a tee. He brings so much humanity and vulnerability to the character that it is hard not to root for her throughout the movie. Martin del Rosario also gives a stand-out performance as Prince, who is both charming and relatable, and VJ Mendoza is also impressive as Trinity.

Director Perci Intalan does a great job of fleshing out the characters and bringing them to life. The film is well-paced, moving from one scene to the next seamlessly, and the humor is well-balanced with the more poignant moments. The cinematography is also excellent, with the film's lighting and colors perfectly capturing the mood of the movie.

Overall, Born Beautiful is a fantastic sequel that does justice to its predecessor, Die Beautiful. It offers a nuanced and poignant look at the lives of transgender individuals and the issues they face. The movie gives voice to people who are often marginalized in society and provides an accurate representation of their struggles. It is a must-watch not just for fans of the first movie, but for anyone who wants to experience a great Filipino film.

Born Beautiful is a 2019 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.