The blossoms in our communities known as today’s gay youth have a way of brightening up the world in the most innocent of ways. In the squalid slums of Manila, 12-year-old Maximo Oliveros (Nathan Lopez) is already comfortable with his homosexuality, as are his family, neighbors and childhood playmates. Happily stepping into the void left by the death of his mother, Maxi (as he is called by nearly everyone) cooks, cleans, mends & protects his family of 2 macho older brothers and a rugged father, who are perhaps the sweetest, most gentle den of petty thieves you’ll ever encounter. All is sunny in the easy rhythm of casual small-time corruption until Maxi is unexpectedly harassed late one night and rescued by Victor, a handsome and idealistic young policeman new to the neighborhood beat. Maxi becomes completely smitten with Victor who is at first flattered, then determined to inspire Maxi to dream of a better life – and learn the difference between right and wrong. Maximo’s blossoming entails the loss of quite a lot of his innocence, which although painful, renders him all the more gorgeous and loveable. This beautiful jewel of a movie is gracefully-scored and acted, and filled with exquisite moments of character, such as a classic children’s imitation pageant of Miss Universe that will have tears of laughter rolling down your cheeks. In Filipino/Tagalog with English subtitles.
Producer Raymond Lee will attend the screening and discuss the film with the audience.
Auraeus Solito was born in the Philippine capital of Manila. While working on his documentary feature about the myths and rituals of the Palawan tribe, he was asked to direct The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveras which won a top jury prize at the 2006 Rotterdam International Film, the 20th annual TEDDY for Best Gay Feature Film from Berlin International Film Festival 2006 and was an official selection of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Currently residing in Okinawa, Japan on an Asian Public Intellectual Fellowship, he is preparing his second film, Tuli for release later this year
Regal South Beach
10:00 pm Screening
$12 Non-Members/ $10 Members - BUY TICKETS
