Five Break-Ups and a Romance (2023)

Mature romance

Watch this for MDL Challenge. Just as the title suggests, this is a story about one couple and their relationship across five stages of love, told through different chapters of their lives.

The film follows Lance, an aspiring doctor, and Justine, a career-driven fashion designer, as they navigate the complexities of love over roughly eight years. Unlike traditional rom-coms, this movie is structured into chapters that focus on the lows, conflicts, and turning points of their relationship rather than just the sweet highlights.

2015: The Prologue (Singapore)
Lance (a tourist and medical student) and Justine (a fashion brand manager based in Singapore) meet at a concert. What was supposed to be a one-night stand turns into an intense emotional connection. Before Lance leaves, he introduces the idea of “quantum entanglement”—the belief that once two particles connect, they remain linked regardless of distance. Inspired by this idea, they decide to try a long-distance relationship as Lance returns to the Philippines.

2016: Chapter 2 (The Return to Manila)
Justine gives up her high-paying job in Singapore to move back to the Philippines for Lance. She takes on a consultant role, hoping for a fresh start. But reality hits hard. Lance is overwhelmed by medical school, and Justine feels out of place among his wealthy friends. A heated argument at a house party becomes the breaking point. Their different worlds, ambition, and pressure pull them apart.

2018: Chapter 3 (The Reconciliation)
They cross paths again during the renewal of vows for Justine’s parents. Despite having been apart for a long time, the attraction is still there. They decide to give their relationship another chance and eventually move in together at Lance’s condo.

2020: Chapter 4 (The Pandemic & Betrayal)
The COVID-19 pandemic hits. Lance is now a general surgeon working on the front lines, while both of them are confined to a small condo. The emotional strain, exhaustion, and growing distance lead to betrayal—and ultimately, another breakup.

2023: Chapter 5 (The Finale)
Three years later, Justine has successfully built her own fashion brand. They meet again at a hospital when Justine’s father is admitted. This time, they finally have an honest and raw conversation about everything they’ve been through.

Now the question:
Will they find their way back to each other, or is this truly the end—where both choose to move forward separately and continue their lives apart?

In the end this isn’t a story about perfect love. It’s about real love—messy, painful, beautiful, and unforgettable. If you’re bored with typical romances where everything has to be beautiful and ideal; and want something real, raw, and relatable, this could be the perfect choice for you to watch.

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