Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros
Encyclopedia
The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros is a story about a gay
teen who is torn between his love for a young cop and his loyalty to his family.
) 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 (J. R. 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 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 never revealed. He rebuffs Maxi's advances,only affectionately stoking Maxi's head even when the boy steals a kiss.
After Maxi's father is killed by Victor's boss, 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 clever homage to the final scene of "The Third Man
".
The film was the official entry of the Philippines to the 2007 Academy Awards. It holds the distinction of being one of the very few digital films released in 2005 to do well at the tills. It also made the rounds of international film festivals.
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
teen who is torn between his love for a young cop and his loyalty to his family.
Synopsis
Maxi (Nathan LopezNathan Lopez
Louie Nathanael Buado Lopez is a Filipino actor. His first big hit was in Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros in 2005 where he played a 12-year-old gay boy who comes from a criminal family and falls in love with a handsome policeman...
) 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 (J. R. 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 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
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
him, but is saved by the appearance of Victor. Victor does not have a girlfriend, and his sexuality is never revealed. He rebuffs Maxi's advances,only affectionately stoking Maxi's head even when the boy steals a kiss.
After Maxi's father is killed by Victor's boss, 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 clever homage to the final scene of "The Third Man
The Third Man
The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. Many critics rank it as a masterpiece, particularly remembered for its atmospheric cinematography, performances, and unique musical score...
".
Awards
| Year | Film Festival/Award | Award | Category/Recipient | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | IFC Spirit Awards | Independent Spirit Awards 2007 | Best Foreign Film (Nominee) | |
| 2006 | Berlin International Film Festival | Glass Bear - Special Mention | Best Feature Film | |
| 2006 | Berlin International Film Festival | Teddy Award Teddy Award The Teddy Award is an international film award for films with LGBT topics, presented by an independent jury as an official award of the Berlin International Film Festival . Here, an "independent jury" implies that its members are not officially selected by the committee of the Berlinale... |
Best Feature Film | |
| 2006 | Gawad Urian Awards Gawad Urian Awards The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines held since 1977. It is given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and is currently regarded as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle.... |
Gawad Urian Award | Best Picture | |
| 2006 | Las Palmas Film Festival, Spain | Best Actor | Nathan Lopez | |
| 2006 | Las Palmas Film Festival, Spain | Golden Lady Harimaguada | Auraeus Solito Auraeus Solito Auraeus Solito is a filmmaker and indigenous peoples rights advocate who comes from a lineage of Shaman-Kings from the Palawan tribe but is one of the first to be born outside of his tribal land of South Palawan... |
|
| 2005 | Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film festival in the Philippines held annually in the month of July at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Its aim is the development and promotion of Filipino independent film... , Philippines |
Balanghai Trophy | Best Production Design | Clint Catalan |
| 2005 | Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Philippines | Special Citation | Nathan Lopez | |
| 2005 | Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Philippines | Special Jury Prize | Auraeus Solito | |
| 2005 | Montreal World Film Festival Montreal World Film Festival The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF... 2005, Quebec |
Golden Zenith Award for Best Picture | ||
| 2005 | imagineNative Film Festival, Toronto | Best Picture | ||
| 2005 | Asian Festival of 1st Films, Singapore | Best Film |
The film was the official entry of the Philippines to the 2007 Academy Awards. It holds the distinction of being one of the very few digital films released in 2005 to do well at the tills. It also made the rounds of international film festivals.