The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (2005)

A young boy falls in love with a handsome policeman who is investigating his family's criminal activities.

Director:

Auraeus Solito

Writer:

Michiko Yamamoto (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Nathan Lopez, Soliman Cruz, J.R. Valentin

24 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nathan Lopez	...	Maxi Oliveros
Soliman Cruz	...	Paco Oliveros
J.R. Valentin	...	Victor Perez
Neil Ryan Sese	...	Boy Oliveros
Ping Medina	...	Bogs Oliveros
Bodjie Pascua	...	New Sergeant
Elmo Redrico	...	Sarge
Ivan Camacho	...	Art
Lucito Lopez	...	Pulis
Jett Desalesa	...	Leslie - Maxi's friend (as Sir Jett Desalesa)
Anastacio Cruz	...	Nar - Maxi's friend
Roychell Torre	...	Monique - Maxi's friend
Peter Anthony Tumbaga	...	Peter - Maxi's friend
Edwin Pamanian	...	Isko
Rodney Luengu	...	Mang Axel

Storyline

Can a 12-year old lad who wishes he were a girl navigate the mean streets of Manila? Maxi cooks, cleans, and sews for his father and older brothers who are petty criminals. He's sweet, clever and hardworking, at ease with being gay, pinning a flower in his hair, swinging his hips when he walks, vamping with friends. He's seen adults hug and kiss and he's watched romantic movies, so on the verge of puberty, he develops a crush on Victor, a kindly young cop. Maxi's heart and loyalties are on a collision course: Victor is investigating crimes that lead him to Maxi's family. In the land of the morning, is there a place for this child of the sun returning?

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Plot Keywords:

criminal | boy | crush | friend | petty criminal | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finalist to 2005 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Full-Length Feature

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Quotes

Maxi: It's dark! Papa will be home soon! I'm going.
Dressmaker: Wait, there's still the swimsuit competition!

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Connections

Referenced in Ako ang simula: The ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Yearend Special (2006)

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Soundtracks

Barista
Written by Owel Alvero
Performed by Ang Bandang Shirley
From the Lo-fi with Love 1.0
Kwarto ni Owel Studios

User Reviews

Loyalty Realised

Just by watching this film, one can understand inside-out about what's going on in a so-called developing country. All the odds. All the blurry lines. And the great parallel of morality and survivability. This film tells a life story well beyond homosexuality and human attraction, as indicated in the camouflage. Maximo or Maxi represents every soul on earth, who needs time, and perhaps a tragedy, to comprehend the life bestowed on him by others, and another life he may be given a chance to choose. His criminal but ultimately decent family is on one side, and the naively honest and devilishly handsome police officer on the other. And, to cry out loud, he is only 12 years old, living in a slum area and without a mother. Forcing him to choose is cruel. I myself am from Thailand. Not so different from the Philippines portrayed excellently here. I think I can relate very well to the sense of trapping one may feel, having born into a brothel of life like that. I dare an inexperienced westerner to predict the film plot, and how it might end. I do not think you can figure out one move to another. This film is honest, with the story well-told and incredibly fair. It should be nominated for major film awards on behalf of ASEAN, as opposed to the Philippines alone, as it tells an ASEAN story, except for Singapore, as few films can. Maximo walks past the charming Victor on his way to re-enter school. Believe it or not, it is indeed a hard decision to make, in a society less than fair and democratic. He is indeed blossoming.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Philippines] Zelig Films [France]

Country:

Philippines

Language:

Filipino Tagalog

Release Date:

4 April 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

Feslő bimbó - Maxi legszebb évei

Filming Locations:

Barangay 539 Zone 53, Sampaloc, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,690, 24 September 2006

Gross USA:

$28,041

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,691

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinemalaya Foundation, UFO Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color