Rating: R
Movie Release Date: May 18, 2000
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2003
Plot 411: A Filipino-American boy struggles to accept his culture and rebels against his father's attempts to control him.
Review: This is a unique movie simply because of its topic and the people who came together to see it get made. It stars Dante Basco (otherwise known as Rufio in Hook) as Ben, a Filipino-American teen who is caught between two worlds - the culture and beliefs of his parents and the culture in which he lives right now. He is a great artist and wants to go to college to pursue his art, but his father (Tirso Cruz III) wants him to go to medical school. Father and son both think they know best and fight each other without really listening to one another. Caught in the middle are Ben's mom (Gina Alajar) and sister Rose (Bernadette Balagtas). Desperately trying to distance himself from his family and roots, he emmerses himself in the American culture and befriends to white guys. He's ashamed of who he is and doesn't want to expose his friends to the weirdness of his family. It's not until Rose's debut party that Ben finally opens up and experiences what being Filipino means and just who he is because of it. Most of the acting done in this film is amateurish, except for the some of the supporting roles that are done by well-known Filipino actors. However, a lot of the interaction done by the younger actors is quite stiff and obviously not subtle at all. Despite this, the movie is worth a look see because its themes are still prevalant, especially in Hawaii where so many cultures and immigrants converge. The idea of filial piety conflicts with the American notion of independence. Do you sacrifice your dreams in order to comply with your family's hopes for you? Because, look how much they've sacrificed for you. How spoiled you are to disagree with plans and a life that has been set for you. Or do you hurt the people closest to you by following your dreams - dreams that do not quite fall into their idea of what a successful person is?
Movie Release Date: May 18, 2000
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2003
Plot 411: A Filipino-American boy struggles to accept his culture and rebels against his father's attempts to control him.
Review: This is a unique movie simply because of its topic and the people who came together to see it get made. It stars Dante Basco (otherwise known as Rufio in Hook) as Ben, a Filipino-American teen who is caught between two worlds - the culture and beliefs of his parents and the culture in which he lives right now. He is a great artist and wants to go to college to pursue his art, but his father (Tirso Cruz III) wants him to go to medical school. Father and son both think they know best and fight each other without really listening to one another. Caught in the middle are Ben's mom (Gina Alajar) and sister Rose (Bernadette Balagtas). Desperately trying to distance himself from his family and roots, he emmerses himself in the American culture and befriends to white guys. He's ashamed of who he is and doesn't want to expose his friends to the weirdness of his family. It's not until Rose's debut party that Ben finally opens up and experiences what being Filipino means and just who he is because of it. Most of the acting done in this film is amateurish, except for the some of the supporting roles that are done by well-known Filipino actors. However, a lot of the interaction done by the younger actors is quite stiff and obviously not subtle at all. Despite this, the movie is worth a look see because its themes are still prevalant, especially in Hawaii where so many cultures and immigrants converge. The idea of filial piety conflicts with the American notion of independence. Do you sacrifice your dreams in order to comply with your family's hopes for you? Because, look how much they've sacrificed for you. How spoiled you are to disagree with plans and a life that has been set for you. Or do you hurt the people closest to you by following your dreams - dreams that do not quite fall into their idea of what a successful person is?
Watch It: If you're an immigrant's child. No matter what color you are, you'll be able to relate to the struggle for identity.
Skip It: If you can't see beyond the so-so storytelling and bad acting. I mean, the acting is really pretty bad at some points.
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