Hello. This is my first post to Twitch. And so I would like to mention the film that is changing the Filipino movie landscape, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros). It is our very first Sundance feature film entry (Imelda was our first documentary entry), and we are quite proud of it. The Filipino film industry has been in the doldrums recently (like a lot of Southeast Asian film), and so we are hoping the resurrection will come from the indie scene. (though mainstream Filipino films are also well represented here in Twitch) So hopefully, I’ll be able to introduce you slowly to our nascent global film industry and maybe you’ll like it.
And here’s my review, I modified it a little bit to suit the international audience...
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros
By Joey Fernandez
I was planning not to watch Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros. I was like, oh no, another movie about “baklas” (gays) in the Philippines. How cliché. But APMO, is not your typical Filipino pink film. First of all the movie is not about the expected oppression of homosexuals. In fact, the gay child, Maxie, is quite loved in his squatter colony, even by his macho criminal father and brothers. I am frankly sick and tired of movies about fathers beating the crap out of their sons because they are gay. Yes, global movie industry, there are families who love their children, straight or not.
The movie unfolds and there is a new cop on the block. As expected Maxie falls in love with him and the usual childhood crushing ensues. Though what I found more fascinating is how Michiko Yamamoto, the scriptwriter puts in the details of how a poor Filipino society functions. Jueteng is tolerated. Ending is a cottage industry. (both are illegal numbers games) Maxie with a small piece of paper and a pen can run it. Even the police play jueteng. For an outsider, there are other things that can be quite disturbing. The police captain drinks with petty thieves. The “tambays”(layabouts) show deference to the cops, but curse them after they have passed by. It is also shown it is disrespectful to turn down a drink in a squatter area, I have always wondered if this is true, but I am too chicken to find out. Heck, there was even nakedness shown in the film, that was quite jolting, ah, the joys of having digital effect to block certain things.
I also like the way the film portrays cops that are quite different from how we usually perceive them. Cops do provide order to the neighborhood and we do need them. If we didn’t have cops, the Philippines would be a lot more chaotic than we think. And it is a very difficult job. Plus contrary to popular belief, cops aren’t much richer than the common Filipino. So don’t think those mulcting street cops are raking it in. Their stainless steel jeeps kind of show how much they are really making. But most surprising of all when Maxie’s crush starts investigating Maxie’s family, they retaliate. Destroying the belief that cops are untouchable. Some cops are indeed heroic.
But there was one other character in the film that I would like to give special mention to, Paco (Maxie’s father) played by Soliman Cruz. Paco is a King Learish character (though I’ve never read King Lear). He rages against the injustices of society, when he is too proud to realize that he had actually set-up the tragedies rallied against him. And in the end, he still believes he has the stars lined up for him. When in truth…
Hmmm, so I guess what makes this movie work, is the changing of perceptions we think we know about the urban poor but aren’t necessarily true. This movie is about the shattering of myths and this is why I believe, it is well worth watching.
Thanks for a wonderful review.
I didnt get to see "Maxie" when it was out in the theaters here in Manila (which I regret very much). but I am definitely proud that it made to Sundance. Hope it gets the exposure it deservesa and eventually pave the way for other FilIndies to break the international market.
Go Pinoy!
sounds interresting, thanks. It would really be something different, a nice opposition to the usual dramas, where every thinkable evil comes upon the gay youth, and he just has to come out to the world to set everything right.
this movie ROCKS..m/...kahit independent film xa, natalo pa niya ung ibang movie na mas sikat lalo na in terms of awards...galing talaga ni nathan...
Jueteng and Ending is not an easy thing because it is illegal but Maxi with a small piece of paper and a pen can run it. Even the policemen play jueteng and ending. Besides, they also drink with thieves. . Destroying the belief that policemen are untouchable. Some of them are indeed heroic.
I also like how the film portrays policemen that are quite different from how we usually think of them. But policemen provide peace and order to the neighborhood and we do need them. If we didn’t have policemen, our country would be very scary because of scattered criminals. And it is a very difficult job.
As a teenager, Maxi, can’t avoid to have a crush. He fell in love to a policeman. He meets Victor, a principled, idealistic and handsome policeman. Maxi befriends Victor, who, in inspiring the boy to hope for a better life, earns the ire of Maxi's family.
I think, the intention of this movie is to change the perceptions we think of the urban poor but are not necessarily true.
It is something worth watching, and I know it can inspire Filipinos that we can do better not just in films, but in practically everything we set our minds and passions to...m/
this ROCKS...asztiG..
go pinoy you did great!!!!
maximo i think was one of the best Filipino film made last year. Ofcourse except for the not so senseful movies.I really appreciate how the scriptwriter insert his beautiful ideas.unluckily i did not get to see the movie.But for the fact it was one of the movie in an international competition.Filipinos really rocks..........
Hey, your review mentions only the scriptwriter and actors. I think Auraeus Solito the director (yes, the film has a director) did a great job and was responsible for the film's grace and sensitivity. His earlier indie work showed great promise, now fulfilled. HE is the main reason the movie is in Sundance.
i loved the film and the review you wrote is very good. "maximo" is really a film worth watching. it raises social consciousness.
i loved the film and the review you wrote is very good. "maximo" is really a film worth watching. it raises social consciousness.
galing! deserving of an URIAN.....
one really nice thing about this movie is the absence of eardrums-shattering hysterics most Filipino drama movies have here. The light touch of the director, Aureus Solito, provided a meditative, pensive but relaxed flow of the story. Kudos also to the writer, Michiko Yamamoto, who also delivered Magnifico to the world. Magnifico has the same feel with Maxi, I should say.
habang pinanonood ko ang palabas, naisip ko kaagad ang buhay ng isang nagdadalagang lalaki sa isang buhay ng mahihirap. Sa ginampanan ni Nathan Lopes bilang Maximo Oliveros, naramdaman ko kung papaano nananambik ang puso niya sa isang lalaki.
Napakagaling ng istoria sa isang ordinaryong pelikula.
Para kay Nathan Lopez.....(hehehe, hanep ang iyong pag arte.)
sana may susunod pang kabanata. pls pls pls.
It's cool that twitch is covering films from the 'Pines. It makes you wonder though why'd they get a relative novice like Joey Fernandez as their unofficial correspondent/critic when there are more credible film writers around-- Erwin Romulo and Dodo Dayao spring to mind (Noel Vera --the 7 foot giant in the room-- has migrated to the US unfortunately). The best thing you can say about Joey is that he has all the time in the world to post, blog, or chat. What he lacks is real knowledge about pinoy cinema or its history. Or even a tangible body of literary work that can be considered --qualitatively, that is-- critically valid and/or of consequence. Go MAXI.
We've got Joey because:
a) we like him.
b) he knows his stuff.
c) he writes well.
d) he's pretty much a day one reader and contributor to the comments threads around here.
e) we have complementary tastes
and
f) we like him.
wow grabe ang movie na ito! sana may part 2 para malaman namin ang mangyayari sa unang pag-ibig ni maxi! astig talaga ang movie na ito! ito ang pinakagusto kong movie!
ang part 2! hihintayin namin ng mga classmates ko at friends!
I was not able to watch this movie coz i was busy, i ask my relatives in the philippines,iloilo if they watch this movie,.. they said no,., a hate that thier not being so supportive,., that they only watch big time american features,. .,.,.. but i will certainly buy a dvd in time of release.,.,. i haven't heard about this movie, til my mother told me it won in the festivals,.,. can't wait to watch this on dvd, with bihind the scenes and its making,.,.,.
Maxi was shown at the InsideOut international Film Festival here in Toronto this past Monday.Based on the audience reaction, this movie was a winner. I must say, it made me proud to be pinoy after watching this movie. Great movie. Highly recommended.
The Asian Pacific Alliance of New York (APANY), an Asian-Pacific gay organizatin in New York (open to non-Asians as well), was invited by the film department of the Smithsonian National American Indian Museum for a free screening of the film at the Museum on July 8, Saturday, 2pm. Needless to say, many of us from APANY came, the only group of any kind officially invited for the screening, and APANY is truly honored for this.
We all loved the movie: Funny and moving. Many of us here in the U.S (but specially non-Filipinos), forget what slums of Manila and the people are like. This is truly a great film, not just for gays but for everyone to enjoy. Anyway, there was a question and answere session with producer Raymond Lee afterwards. This movie is begging for a sequel, perhaps a trilogy. What happens to Maximo now that he is going to school, giving up all his colorful wardrobe? (And what about the handsome policeman, whose sexuality is quite ambivalent, since he doesn't have a gilrfriend? Will
that be answered?)
w0w!!!!!
this movie is really fantstic.....
maximo in real life(Nathan Lopez) is very cute and handsome....
i wish i will meet him in person....
i realy love it...
i wish that nathan read this if he can please
leave a massage 0n
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.......
that is my friendster and yaho0 mail.....
hope i will seee you soon....
aztig!! ! u rock!!
maganda ung movie swear.
Just saw this movie today at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF). For one thing, the images shown were effective in showing the viewers what kind of life our urban poor have. They gasped in unison when they saw the garbage strewn creek at the start of the film. Instead of feeling embarassed, I was proud in a way in that it also reveals the resilience of the Filipinos. Speaking of jueteng, I'll be back Saturday at the same festival to see The Bet Collector (Kubrador). And speaking of "gay" themed movies, I won't be seeing "Twilight Dancers" - the third Pinoy film to be shown during this year's PSIFF which is probably recycled from previous ones with a similar storyline.
it's wonderful
Siguraduhin niyo lang na maganda ito ha? Ako pa naman ay may malaking bias laban sa kabaklaan, although may kapit bahay akong bading at may kaibigan at kakilala din naman akong mga bading. At isa pa, hindi ako talaga nanonood ng Pinoy movies, ni halos hindi nga ako nanonood ng Pinoy TV e, except sa mga naaabutan ko sa bahay na pinanonood ng mga anak ko at kasama sa bahay pagdating ko galing sa trabaho. Minsan din pag bisita ako sa ibang bahay, ay lumulugar naman ako para makibagay sa kanila sa gusto nilang panoorin. Teka, minsan naman din pala ay nanonood ako ng MyxTV at yung mga ibang programa sa Studio23 tsaka yung UN-TV noon ni Atom Henares dahil rakista naman talaga ako. What I'm saying is that, in general, I mostly have a foreign diet when it comes to entertainment media. I am just giving this movie a shot because I'm more of an open-minded cynic than an idealistic idiot, but most probably still an idiot nonetheless.
Batid ko na from the review above na hindi talaga tungkol sa kabaklaan ang pelikula na ito. Pero parang wala rin naman bagong io-offer na enlightenment para sa akin dahil sa tingin ko, streetsmart naman ako at may history din tungkol sa kahirapan ala pagiging squatter. Not claiming to be a wisdomful git, but I believe I've lived enough years to determine what is indeed sensible or not. So maybe I am considering this movie for its artistic merits alone.
Gusto ko lang pasalamatan yung nagsulat ng article sa taas, si Mr Joey Fernandez, sa pagbibigay ng isang medyo in-depth na plot outline para mas ma-consider kong panoorin itong pelikula na ito. Kunsabagay, nagpapasalamat na rin ako sa mga nagcontribute dito ng sensible comments para mas maliwanagan ako sa panonoorin kong pelikula. What I just hate is unwarranted, irresponsible and undeserved sensationalism - yung tipong puros meaningless and hollow praises na hindi naman ni-concretize definitively kung ano yung binibigyan ng value. Magagalit ang marami sa sasabihin kong ito pero - may sakit kasi tayong mga Pilipino na ganitong uri e. Pero alam ko namang may pag-asa pa - with better quality education and better political environments - siguradong may pag-asa pa, kahit iyon man lang ang natitira. Di ba yung ang sabi sa Shawshank Redemption? Hope is one of the most important things that you must hold on to.
Salamat...
i need help. i'm doing a paper on APMO and i need to know what you guys think of it.
1. do you think this is a positive portrayal of philippine society? why?
2. what should be taken more into consideration when analyzing the film: the recurring images in the film or the image of the society?
3. what else should be focused on in the film?
help!!!
thanks
i think you could focus on happiness among the poverty :)
Ampuge ng pakakagawa!!
pnagawa pa kmi ng reaxon paper n2!!!
wlastek!!!
ang galing mo maxie.....
Very touching movie... Do not judge this one according to its title. It's deceiving to conclude when you haven't watched it until the end...
It signifies the reality of life on how to survive wwhile you are living in this country.
I've just rented and watched the movie and it was really good!! The actors are great and gave a realistic feel to the film (with uncensored curses and the like) which I believe in our big film industries is quite strict about. And of course, the story is great!! It's really about the hard and sad realities in the slum areas in our country but nevertheless it still shows the love of the family (from the brothers protecting Maximo and accepting who he/she is ^_^) and moving forward after being pulled down. It's quite a cliffhanger in the end but I still liked it how it ended.
It's a good thing that Filipino independent films (like Ang Pagdadalaga.., Kubrador, etc.) are being recognized abroad but hopefully most of the Filipino audience must embrace more and must not wait for other countries to applaud these films. These type of stories must be made even for big film industries (especially commercialized formula-genre films ) so that the morality of the masses will developed and also cultured. And lastly, more films like this will be graciously shown in cinemas and not only on film festivals, etc. so everyone can watch it!! ^_^
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