The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
Published Sunday, July 08, 2007 by The Movie Club | E-mail this post
Director: Auraeus Solito
Cast: Nathan Lopez, JR Valentin
RunTime: 103 mins
Genre: Drama
Rating: NC-16
Meet Maximo Oliveros, a 12-year old Filipino boy who prances around the gritty back lanes of the outskirts of Manila. He is a huge contrast with the surrounding. Dressed in tight yellow tee, a pink headband and a flower at the corner of his head, he radiates gayness and happiness. The place he stays in, dirty slums with sounds of buzzing hawkers, surrounded by burly guys with nothing better to do.
He is like the daughter, or even the mother of the household of thieves. He fusses over his father for dinner, and washes his brothers’ dirty clothes.
Just as he was indulging in his world of love movies and Ms Universe competitions, he is brought back reality. The man of his dreams, come face off with his family who could be involved in a murder.
This is not a typical gay film, but one which deals with the coming of age of a teen still finding his life, identity and belonging. Like a flower which has yet bloomed, you can feel with his heart beating as young Maximo can only watch his hero from afar, and attempts to plan a peck on the cheek.
Such innocence. Some simplicity. The fact that the setting is the harsh but real world of Philippines, allows us to see the world of a young growing boy and the world of a old growing nation.
However, the film does feel very unpolished and draggy throughout, with noises of the streets juxtaposed with random guitar playing.
Perhaps this film is about contrast. When the older Maximo meets the straight-looking (but may not be straight) police officer once again, the honesty of its portrayal tells us about the pain of growing up.
The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros – Has potential to blossom, but the pacing slows it down
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