The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (Filipino: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros) is a 2005 Filipino coming-of-age film about a gay teen who is torn between his love for a young cop and his loyalty to his family. The film competed under 1st Cinemalaya Film Festival in 2005. The film was the official entry of the Philippines to the 79th Academy Awards. It is one of the few digital films released in 2005 to do well at the tills. It also made the rounds of international film festivals.

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
Official poster
Directed byAuraeus Solito
Written byMichiko Yamamoto
StarringNathan Lopez
JR Valentin
Ping Medina
Production
company
UFO Pictures
Cinemalaya
Distributed byUnitel Pictures (Philippines)
Star Cinema (Philippines)
Peccadillo Pictures (UK)
Unico Entertainment (US)
Cathay-Keris Films (Singapore)
Release date
  • July 13, 2005 (2005-07-13) (Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival)
  • November 30, 2005 (2005-11-30) (Philippines (selected cinemas))
Running time
100 min.
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Synopsis

Maxi (Nathan Lopez) is a 12-year-old effeminate gay boy who lives in the slums with his father and brothers who are petty thieves. The story primarily revolves around the conflict between his love for handsome young police officer Victor (JR Valentin), and his family's illegal livelihood. Neo-realist in orientation, the film is a tale of lost innocence and redemption amidst the poverty of Manila's slums.

Maxi behaves like a girl, wearing clips or hairband in his hair and bangles on his wrists and even wearing lipstick. He is teased by neighbors and former school friends. His sexuality is, however, fully accepted by his two brothers and by his father. One night, he is accosted by two men who attempt to molest him, but is saved by the appearance of Victor. Victor does not have a girlfriend and his sexuality is kept ambiguous. However, he does rebuff Maxi's advances. In a key event, Maxi's father, his brother Bogs, and Bogs' friends hatch a plan to teach Victor a lesson for snooping into their business. They leave him bloodied and beat up. Just as Victor saved him, it was Maxi who arrived to clean Victor's wounds and cook breakfast for him. Maxi felt sorry and felt somehow responsible for his injuries. Victor then affectionately stroked Maxi's hair and Maxi him a kiss on the cheek.

After Maxi's father is killed by Victor's boss which Maxi witnesses, Maxi resists Victor's attempts to renew their friendship. The closing scene shows Maxi walking past Victor who has parked by the roadside on Maxi's way to school. He ignores Victor as he passes him, hesitates momentarily as he crosses the road, then goes on his way. This last scene is a homage to the final scene of "The Third Man".

Cast

Awards
Year Film Festival/Award Award Category/Recipient
2010Gawad Urian Awards, PhilippinesGawad Urian AwardBest Filipino Film of the Decade
2007Independent Spirit Awards, USABest Foreign Film (Nominee)
2006Berlin International Film Festival, GermanyGlass Bear - Special MentionBest Feature Film
Berlin International Film Festival, GermanyTeddy AwardBest Feature Film
Gawad Urian Awards, PhilippinesGawad Urian AwardBest Picture
Las Palmas Film Festival, SpainBest ActorNathan Lopez
Las Palmas Film Festival, SpainGolden Lady HarimaguadaAuraeus Solito
International Film Festival Rotterdam, the NetherlandsNETPAC Award[1]
2005Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, PhilippinesBalanghai TrophyBest Production Design
(Clint Catalan)
Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, PhilippinesSpecial CitationNathan Lopez
Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, PhilippinesSpecial Jury PrizeAuraeus Solito
Montreal World Film Festival 2005, CanadaGolden Zenith Award for Best Picture
imagineNative Film Festival, CanadaBest Picture
Asian Festival of 1st Films, SingaporeBest Film

See also

References
  1. "The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros". NETPAC. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
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