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Summary: A gem of a film!!!
Comment: Aureaus Solito's film about a 12 year old boy Maxi Oliveros (Nathan Lopez) is an emotive and charming drama about the highs and lows of a first love. Maxi is growing up in the slums of Manila among the detruitus of the big city, and despite his age has taken on the role of surrogate mother for his father (Soliman Cruz) and two brothers, all petty criminals lording it over their neighbourhood. Maxi cooks, cleans, washes clothes and sows - but does not go to school. Bring in the new policeman on the block, a gentle and charming young man called Victor (J R Valentine) and Maxi's little world is turned upside down with his first pangs of love and the exploration of his own sexuality.
Some viewers may initially be put off by seeing a 12 year old mincing around with his camp friends, having make-believe fashion pageants, but Solito manages never to let the film descend into sexualisation or exploration, and so we keep seeing Maxi's world through his innocent childlike eyes. Maxi is a charismatic character. And, who of us hasn't been young?
Maxi's imperfect but cosy little world is soon dramatically torn up though, and the ensuing tragic consequences make him stronger, accepting the challenges of life. The relationship between Victor and Maxi is the marker of his threshold between being a child and becoming a young adult. We are being being moved witnessing his growing up, his blossoming, while around him a constant jetsam and flotsam of humanity ebbs and flows.
The film was made on a very low budget but that adds to its colourful crispness. It is nice to see such a good script in action - as if it were live! We are, as viewers, really drawn into this world and feel with the young boy as his innocent world is torn apart but then put back together again for bigger and better things. The last scene before the credits show how he has accepted the challenges put to him and grown into a young adult - ready to get on with learning, leaving the past standing by the wayside, yet with an open option. And, don't turn off when the credits start rolling, there is one last afterthought. Something we should all do from time to time to really move on in life.
I loved this film and the feelgood factor it transmits, despite and because of everything that is going on. A true gem. Watch, see and live it!
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![The Blossoming Of Maximo Oliveros [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51g2SAdW5IL._SL160_.jpg)
