Revisiting the Philippine adaptations of ‘Wuthering Heights’

February 22 ------ Bringing Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights” to the screen is nothing new, as seen in Emerald Fennell’s interpretation of the classic novel. The story of love and revenge across two generations has long been loved by filmmakers and creatives — even the Philippines has adapted it four times.

Even though “Wuthering Heights” revolves around two generations, the Philippine adaptations only focus on the story of Heathcliff, Catherine, Edgar, Isabella, and Hindley. It is not a direct copy of Brontë’s storyline, though, but it is an interpretation of the plot and personalities of the leads.

Take a look at how the Philippine entertainment industry retold Brontë’s story on film and TV:

‘Hihintayin Kita sa Langit’ (1991)

Cast: Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta

Rating: 4/5

Perhaps the most popular local adaptation of “Wuthering Heights,” “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit” faithfully brings the tragedy of Gabriel (Gomez) and Carmina (Zulueta) — the localized versions of Heathcliff and Catherine — to the screen. However, the novel’s glaring difference is that Gabriel allows himself to be killed by Milo (Michael De Mesa). The film ends with Gabriel and Carmina’s souls reunited in heaven, a bittersweet and heartfelt conclusion to their love story. At the same time, Adora or Nelly Dean (Vangie Labalan) was able to witness the lovers’ souls at peace.

‘Walang Hanggan’ (2012)

Cast: Coco Martin, Julia Montes, Richard Gomez, and Dawn Zulueta

Rating: 3.5/5

“Walang Hanggan” retells the tragedy of Heathcliff and Catherine through Daniel (Martin) and Katerina (Montes). The drama has many local elements and deviates from the original storyline. Still, it is a beautiful example of how a writer can adapt a classic novel while making it uniquely their own.

The 2012 drama spans four generations, with Daniel and Catherine’s story at its center. The story follows the ending of “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit” — except the leads are able to marry — and introduces the local adaptation of Cathy, although it remains unclear whether the younger male lead is Hareton Earnshaw or Linton Heathcliff.

‘The World Between Us’

Cast: Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Alden Richards, and Tom Rodriguez

Rating: 2.5/5

Probably the only local adaptation with a happy ending, “The World Between Us” tells the story of Luisito Asuncion (Richards) and Emilia Libradilla (Curtis-Smith) braving the worst of times just to be together. Of course, the wrath of Emilia’s older brother Brian (Rodriguez) is one of the main causes of their hardships. But the story was kind to them, offering Brontë fans a glimpse of what would’ve happened if Heathcliff and Catherine had healed from their past.

‘The Promise’ (2007)

Cast: Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin

Rating: 3.5/5

“The Promise” is somewhat close to Fennell’s version, except that it maintains the gripping pain of Andrea (Locsin) and Daniel’s (Gutierrez) love story, the former’s tragic death at the hands of her husband Anton (TJ Trinidad), and the latter growing old alone.

Source: inquirer.net