Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros at ang mga Aral ng Buhay

Synopsis

In THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS Maxi, a gay pre-teen, is slavishly and uncomplainingly devoted to his family of small-time criminals in a Manila slum. He cleans house for them, cooks for them, washes their underwear, mends their tattered jeans, and, if need be, even covers their tracks so they won't be caught by the police. His world revolves around them. That is, until he meets Victor, a principled, idealistic and handsome young policeman. Victor befriends Maxi and inspires in him the hope for a better life. This doesn't go down too well with Maxi's family.

There are only a few movies that could make you laugh, cry, shout and cringe at the same time. This is one of those movies for me.



This movie is a total success. I have not seen a local movie in a long while that made me feel this way. Not only because the main topic of the movie is close to my heart, but also for the fact that this movie dared to tackle on this very sensitive and misunderstood, should I say "sector" of our society.

Though the movie portrayed a very stereotypical young Filipino gay, it was able to deliver what the story is about. This is not about being gay, in fact, I would not want ot call it a "gay" movie because it is not! This is a story of a family, a society, a battle between what is right and what is socially accepted. This is a story of a young person caught between his family and his desire to belong into a more productive and personal relationship.

One of the message that was parted to me by the movie was this, that no matter how harsh the reality is, and the current situation, love still exist. It might not be in a form of an erotic love affair but the love for ones family, for oneself counts.

I love how the movie also portrayed the relationship with Maxi and his brothers. It is very unusual to see such closeness between a tough older brother and a gay younger brother. The understanding and the love between them was enormous that it was the only thing that saved the family from total doom. It was love so pure that it was able to transcend the cruelty the situation presented.

The stories that the creators of this movie wanted to tell was intricately weaved into the pre-teen years of Maxi. These are the times when everyone goes though a phase of self-questioning and discovery. Although, Maxi was already quite sure of his sexual preference, he was not prepeared for what was to come. He was not prepared for his first love. I love this movie because it was able to show the true feelings of an innocent love, when love was pure and unadulterated. The way that love should always be.

Maybe, there are days that we feel all is lost, that we are fighting a lost cost. There are days when our thoughts about love and life is jaded and is cynic. There are times when we feel that nothing is worth fighting and living for. But the film showed us something different, it showed us that beyond what we see, there is always something to strive for. That even the darkest hour can bring the best out of people. And as Maxi did to Victor, he fully accepted the fact that there are some things that are more important and beyond him, so, he walked passed him, though hesitatting for a moment, then moved forward.