THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO

A couple of weeks ago I visited Toronto's Chinatown which I already missed for several years. The Chinese New Year was a shy 24 hours away then so there was already a bit of excitement in the air. But I was really more interested in checking the pirated DVDs which are abound hereabouts.

"Wanna see the Pilipino collection?" asked a cashier in one of the cramped sales booth which reminded me of Divisoria in the old days. "Yes," I said while my eyes were checking the prices pasted on a wall. 7 movies for 20 $..

"Are these guaranteed to play?""Of course," the salesgirl said.

"How much for 3 movies?"

"Ten dollah"

"Do you accept debit?"

"Of course"was her answer.

I swiped my card then before I punched OK on their machine I saw the amount flashed on the small green screen.

"How come it is 11.30? You said 10$?"

"10 for 3, but only if you use cash.." I forgot that I was in Chinatown dealing with the shrewdest of the shrewdest..I punched OK and she gave my selected titles: CAREGIVER, BATANGAS and ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS. If the damned discs won't work, I won't be losing an arm or a leg.

But all three worked perfectly. Of the three, I liked ANG PAGDADALAGA... most of all.


It is one of the artsy movies ( they seldom make this kind in Manila because it may not make any money ) but it was featured in many International Film festivals, including the renowned OSCARS AWARDS NIGHT in 2006. Even if it did not win the best foreign film award, being nominated was already an achievement by itself. While watching it, I was quite mesmerized by the story, acting, camerawork and the overall artistry of the film.

No excessive violence and gore, no embarassing bedroom stuff which movies now a days must have in order to make money.The cameraman portrayed beauty amidst excessive squalor and hustle in the slum areas of Manila. You will always wonder how you could have survived in such a place. But as my Asingan buddy once said, "Filipinos are known for their very sharp survival instincts.."

Maximo is a homosexual boy, and he does not hide it or feel ashamed about it. He lives in the crime ridden slum areas of Manila with four brothers and a dad. Since their Mother died, Maximo became the houseboy with the basic chores: cooking, washing clothes, darning socks, washing dishes, and being an errand boy..His family makes a living through petty larceny.
Meanwhile, a handsome and still idealistic Police Officer became Maximo's crush and little by little you will know that the expected will eventually happen. The cop knew the crime elements in his assigned area, but he is not yet willing to trade his integrity to a few thousand pesos regular bribe. "You are not a real cop!" he was admonished once by his boss in the small office which passed off as a Police Station in that part of the city.

He does his job ( whatever is permitted anyway )well. After his day's work, he would go home to his boarding house which is smacked right in the squatters area and somehow he just ignore the sounds he hears in the streets once his day's work is over. He is bachelor and he is not interested in having a girl friend.

There are lots of humorous touches in this film. One instance was the fashion show being shown by Max and a few of his other homosexual friends as a part of their way to kill time. While the other kids just hang around in the mall or elsewhere, Max and company would busy themselves inside a friends house with a sewing machine and make outfits made of old clothes and rags..Then they would display thier own creations, complete with make ups..

One time, Max was being roughed up by some young thugs and the police man scared them off by saying: "Do you want to vist the Precinct with me?" The goons just took off like rats..From then on, Max developed a liking for the cop. The Officer befriended Max only to get some info on the unwholesome dealings of his family and other partners in crime.

The climax was brutal, but it was done with minimun show of gore. Just a single gunshot, some facial expressoions, that's it.. It is acting and story telling done with rare finesse.

Some American critics loved this work and wrote praises about it.

I am sure you might feel the same way too..