Drunk in Love, Sober in Goodbye 

by: Angel Francheska A, Gamalo 

More than a love story, I’m Drunk, I Love You felt like a mirror. It felt like looking at a version of myself I used to be, or maybe could have been, if I allowed myself to hold on to someone for seven long years. Watching Carson love Dio deeply moved me, but it also made me realize something important. I do not want that kind of love. I do not want the kind that survives silently in the shadows, waiting and hoping while life moves forward.

The film’s strongest theme for me is unrequited love, but not in a dramatic or self-pitying way. It shows how quiet and ordinary it can be. Seven years of being the best friend. Seven years of “maybe someday.” When Carson finally says,

 “Mahal kita, Dio. Pitong taon na,”

 it does not feel shocking. It feels heavy, like something that has been sitting in her chest for too long. Through a Reader-Response lens, I connected to that weight. I have felt that almost confession, that fear of ruining something stable for something uncertain. But at the same time, watching her made me realize I would never want to carry that kind of love alone for that long. Love should not feel like a secret project you work on by yourself.

The film uses irony in such a creative way. The title suggests chaos, drunken words you might regret. But the real power comes after the confession. When Dio kisses Carson out of comfort, she pulls away. That moment is pure situational irony. We expect the drunk confession to lead to romance, but instead it leads to emotional awakening. She may have been drunk when she confessed, but she was completely sober when she chose her dignity. That contrast between intoxication and clarity makes the message stronger. Love should be mutual, not something given out of consolation.

Another technique that stood out to me is symbolism. Graduation in the film is not just about finishing college. It symbolizes emotional growth. When Carson says, 

“Sa wakas graduate na ako,” 

I felt that deeply. She was not just graduating from school. She was graduating from waiting. The road trip itself feels symbolic too. Every kilometer they travel mirrors her journey toward letting go. By the end, when she laughs and Dio does not understand why, that laughter feels like freedom. It is soft but powerful.

Through a Feminist lens, I admire Carson. She does not beg. She does not force Dio to choose her. She accepts reality and chooses herself. 

“Hindi mo kasalanan na hindi mo ako mahal”

 is one of the most mature lines I have heard in a Filipino film. It shows accountability and strength.

I love this movie because it is honest. It does not glorify long suffering love. Instead, it shows that growing up sometimes means admitting that you deserve something mutual. I’m Drunk, I Love You reminded me that loving someone is brave, but walking away can be braver.