Metawin Opas-iamkajorn
Parin
Overview
Tells the story of a Thai bachelor named Parin who travels to Hong Kong in search of his missing mother. He encounters a Filipino hotel employee named Iris who helps him navigate love, heartbreak, and healing in the foreign city amid their differences in culture and identity.
Cast
6 people
Reviews
5 min readLove in Translation, or Just Lost in It?
I’ve always been a sucker for films that promise love across borders—linguistic, cultural, emotional. There’s something inherently cinematic about two people stumbling toward each other in a city that doesn’t belong to either of them, their misunderstandings and small victories playing out against a backdrop of neon signs and unfamiliar street food. Under Parallel Skies knows this well.
It’s a romance set in Hong Kong, but it’s not the Hong Kong of postcard skylines and tourist traps. Director Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, working with cinematographer Boy Yniguez, deliberately avoids the usual landmarks.
Instead, we get Tai O’s stilt houses, the quiet isolation of Peng Chau, the lived-in grit of Kowloon City. It’s a smart choice, one that grounds the film’s emotional stakes in something tangible. (Though I’ll admit, I spent half the runtime trying to place the exact alleyway where Parin and Iris share their first real conversation—somewhere between a wet market and a noodle stall, the kind of place that doesn’t make it into guidebooks.)
The premise is simple enough: Parin, a Thai architect, arrives in Hong Kong searching for his missing mother. Iris, a Filipino hotel employee, becomes his reluctant guide to the city—and, eventually, to something like love. The film leans hard into the "kilig" factor, that fluttery, romantic excitement that Filipino cinema does so well.
Bernardo has said she directed Metawin Opas-iamkajorn and Janella Salvador to focus on their gaze, to let the chemistry build through small, unspoken moments. And it works, to a point. There’s a scene early on where Iris teaches Parin how to properly eat wonton noodles—chopsticks in one hand, spoon in the other, slurping encouraged.
It’s a tiny, intimate moment, the kind that feels stolen from real life. For a few minutes, you believe in them. Then the film remembers it has a plot to service, and the spell starts to fray.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Under Parallel Skies: A Cross-Cultural Romance with Heart and Mystery
Under Parallel Skies (2024) isn’t just another romantic drama—it’s a rare blend of Filipino and Thai storytelling, set against the neon-lit backdrop of Hong Kong. Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, the film stars Thai heartthrob Metawin Opas-iamkajorn (2gether: The Series) and Filipino actress Janella Salvador (The Killer Bride), promising a tale of love, loss, and uncanny connections. latestnetflix.com's take is that but what’s the real story behind this cross-cultural production?
A Director’s Passion Project
Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, known for her emotionally charged Filipino films like Kita Kita (2017), takes the helm here, writing and directing Under Parallel Skies. The project marks her first foray into a more international cast and setting, blending Filipino and Thai sensibilities. While the evidence doesn’t reveal her exact inspiration, Bernardo’s past work suggests a focus on healing and second chances—themes that align with the film’s premise 
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The movie’s Hong Kong setting isn’t just a picturesque choice; it’s a narrative anchor. Bernardo’s decision to shoot in the city adds a layer of cultural contrast, with the bustling metropolis serving as a character in its own right. The film’s production notes (via MyDramaList) hint at a "foreigner female lead" and a "hotelier female lead," suggesting Janella Salvador’s character might navigate both professional and personal challenges in an unfamiliar city .
The Cast: A Mix of Rising Stars and Fresh Faces
Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, one of Thailand’s most bankable young actors, plays Parin, a Thai architect haunted by his past. His casting is a coup for the film, bringing a built-in fanbase from his hit BL series 2gether. Janella Salvador, meanwhile, takes on the role of a woman whose life intertwines with Parin’s in unexpected ways—though the exact nature of their connection remains a mystery in the snippets 
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Supporting the leads are Marj Lorico (He’s Into Her), Richard Juan (Drag Race Philippines), Juliana Wong Pui-Chun, and Duangjai Hiransri, rounding out a cast that bridges Filipino and Thai talent. The chemistry between the leads is a key selling point, but details about their off-screen dynamic are scarce. Rumors of on-set sparks? Unconfirmed—though fans are already shipping the pair based on trailers alone .
A Story of Parallel Lives and Hidden Connections
At its core, Under Parallel Skies is a romance with a twist. Parin travels to Hong Kong in search of his missing mother, only to cross paths with a woman who seems eerily tied to his past. The IMDb synopsis teases an "uncanny connection," while Grokipedia’s summary suggests themes of heartbreak and healing . The film’s tagline—"Some connections are written in the stars"—hints at a fate-driven narrative, possibly involving identical twins (a trope mentioned in MyDramaList’s genre tags) .
The drama’s tone leans into emotional depth, with Bernardo’s signature style likely bringing raw, intimate moments to the screen. Early buzz suggests a balance of melancholy and hope, though full reviews are still under wraps.
**What’s Next for Under Parallel Skies?**
The film premiered in March 2024, but its reception remains a topic of speculation. With Bernardo’s track record and the star power of Metawin and Salvador, it’s poised to resonate with fans of Asian romances. However, details about box office performance or streaming deals are thin—likely due to its niche appeal outside the Philippines and Thailand.
One thing’s certain: Under Parallel Skies is a bold step for Bernardo, blending cultures and genres in a way few Filipino films have attempted. Whether it becomes a sleeper hit or a cult favorite, its cross-border storytelling is already turning heads.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.