In the world of showbiz, where split ups often become the center of drama and gossip, it’s a breath of fresh air to see a pair like Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia. Their story isn't about bitterness or revenge, but about the possibility of maintaining friendship and creating something beautiful after a breakup.

JoshLia is proving that a reunion with an old flame can be filled with warmth and nostalgia. And that past relationships can indeed lead to incredible new beginnings, and good things, like their reunion project, “Un/Happy For You.” 

The vibe was warm, friendly, and fun as Joshua and Julia sat down with Kapamilya Chat to discuss the making of “Un/Happy For You” and the lessons they learned from their roles as ex-lovers Juancho and Zy.

Julia shared that she was feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement, eagerly anticipating that friends, family, and their solid fans would finally get to see the movie—Joshua felt the same way. They both agreed that there were plenty of laughs along the way, and it’s been great to catch up and reflect on their journey from filming to promotion. Now, as they enter the final stretch before the movie’s release, they’re looking forward to sharing it with everyone.

While some might find working with an ex awkward and potentially reopening old wounds, JoshLia's experience has been quite the opposite. Their reunion has only strengthened their friendship. Instead of dwelling on past bitterness, they’ve been reliving the joy of their shared memories. “It’s been fun. Sobra siyang nakaka-nostalgic. Para siyang, ang tagal nating ‘tong ginawa before, and we’re just doing it again now. Nakaka-miss din,” shared Julia. 

Taking on this reunion movie wasn’t an easy decision for them. It was actually offered years ago, but they weren’t ready at the time. It took the right material and the opportunity to reunite on the big screen for them to feel it was finally the right moment. What matters most to them is they’re doing this with each other. 

The two would exchange warm smiles before answering each question, just like when they were asked about their first day on set. They recalled it as a fun experience, since at first, they were just shooting the happy throwback scenes where their characters were young, carefree, and in love. They found themselves so immersed in the fun that they sometimes forgot to stay in character and just acted like themselves. Even before that, they had already caught up during the look tests, and their excitement to reconnect was already palpable even then. 

But when they moved to Bicol for the more intense scenes, Director Petersen Vargas really tightened the reins, ensuring every detail was spot-on.

They described their experience of making a movie alongside each other again as a perfect mix of work and play. At first, fitting into their characters, Zy and Juancho, was a bit challenging, as it is for any actor. Julia admitted she was caught off guard during the story conference and script reading when she realized just how complex Zy’s character was.

On the other hand, Joshua enjoyed the first script reading because they still had the freedom to make mistakes and experiment with their characters. It was a chance to explore different colors before settling into how to paint their roles. Once they became more comfortable, it got easier to switch into character mode.

“’Pag kapa na namin, mabilis na lang. Hindi na siya ‘yung parang magpe-prepare pa nang malala bago ‘yung eksena. Parang ang bilis na mag-switch into Juancho and Zy,” Joshua reflected, with Julia agreeing, “Kasi kilala mo na ‘yung characters mo.”

In many ways, their characters struck a chord with them. Joshua describes Juancho as someone who loves deeply and completely, to the point of losing sight of everything else but his love for Zy. He’s so focused on her that his attention shifts away from family and friends. Julia’s Zy, on the other hand, also loves intensely but knows when to set boundaries. It’s not about being heartless; rather, it’s about understanding her worth and not accepting less. This highlights Zy’s emotional maturity in their relationship. Moviegoers will be intrigued to see how this dynamic unfolds into a thrilling roller-coaster journey for the characters.

In real life, Joshua and Julia’s roller-coaster journey as a love team began with “Vince and Kath and James” in 2016, leading to their transition into a real-life couple in 2017. Unfortunately, their relationship ended in 2019. Since then, they’ve been at the center of discussions, at first, because of their breakup, and later on, for how they've managed to maintain a strong foundation of friendship and respect. It’s truly remarkable to see how they’ve navigated their post-relationship dynamic. 

Now, we're all nostalgic just thinking about seeing them together on the big screen again. It feels like a blast from the past, but with a twist—Joshua and Julia are now completely different, grown-up individuals. When asked about the changes they’ve noticed in each other, Julia was pleasantly surprised by Joshua’s confidence. “Nakakatuwa kung paano ngayon makisama si Josh, ‘yung confidence niya in talking to people, how he brings everybody closer and together. Nakakatuwa kasi sobrang kaya na niyang dalhin ‘yung sarili niya ngayon.” She looked at him, “Napa-proud ako sa’yo.”

Joshua, keeping his gaze on Julia, responded, “Walang nagbago sa’yo, ikaw pa rin ‘yung palangiti, makausap sa tao.” He added, ”Not all the time may energy ako sa PR, eh, pero siya, siya talaga ‘yun.”

However, both have certainly evolved in their approach to acting. Joshua explained, “Before, since we were both in love, focused naman kami sa work pero may halong personal.” He continued, “Pagdating namin sa set noon, may harutan. Ngayon, focused na kami. Kumbaga, kung trabaho, trabaho. May mga kaunting singit ng kulitan.” 

A clear sign of their maturity is how seamlessly they collaborate on this project. Julia noted that they now openly discuss scenes, share their feelings about them, and work through the filming process together. Their openness extends to coordinating with the creative team as well.

When asked about their life off set and how they handle their emotions, Joshua revealed he’s only recently discovered how to truly unload after a scene. He admitted that, during their “Unbreak My Heart” taping, he would visibly redden when overwhelmed by emotions. Julia, on the other hand, finds her way to recharge by traveling and enjoying the beach. The beach scene always serves as her motivation when work gets challenging. 

Borrowing the movie’s theme, JoshLia was asked whether it’s harder to let go or hold on. Julia candidly admitted that she’s still working on becoming stronger at letting go of what no longer benefits her, though she’s making progress. On the other hand, Joshua is all about standing by his choices and commitments.

Julia used to think that no closure was a form of closure in itself, but her experiences with love and relationships have taught her the crucial role of communication. “Nothing beats honesty. And nothing beats being open about how you felt and kung anong akala mo na nangyari sa mga bagay-bagay.” Joshua chimed in, “Before pa lang, importante na sa akin ang closure.” He pointed out how Juancho, as seen in the trailer, is deeply embittered and seeks revenge against Zy because he didn’t get the closure he needed. 

“Dapat mapag-usapan n’yo lahat bago kayo bumitaw o kung sakaling piliin n’yo mag-stay,” Joshua underscored. 

“Un/Happy For You” reveals how people navigate through flaws and heartache. Moviegoers are sure to resonate with Zy and Juancho—their love, their emotions, their struggles, and imperfections.

“Un/Happy For You” opens exclusively in cinemas on August 14