THE FABULOUS FILIPINO BROTHERS

Released:  2021

Director:     Dante Basco

Writers:       Arianna Basco, Dante Basco, Darion Basco

Actors:        Liza Lapira, Dante Basco, Solenn Heussaff

 

Upfront, I hereby disclose I came from Pittsburg, CA., the locale of this movie and, in fact, I grew up with the parents of the Basco brothers’/sister’s  family.  One of my own sisters lived next to the grandparents of the Basco brothers.  From her window, I’d watch the youthful brothers practicing their skills in their back yard.

 As director, Dante does a creditable and professional job in infusing the screen with the boisterous and passionate energy of family culture.  I read in a review that the actors were guilty of overacting in this film.  I totally disagree.  I knew this family and their characters are EXACTLY reality-based.  In an old-fashioned Filipino family culture, stoicism and forbearance are rare.  Only “Lola” (grandmother) types keep their lips tightly shut, and that’s because they have too many family secrets to keep hidden. 

There is charm and joy in this movie.  Dayo (Derek Basco) does a fine comedic job of embodying “eldest” syndrome… willing to live on the fringe of lawful behavior in order to fulfill family obligations.  On the other hand, David (Dion Basco), the youngest, demonstrates a natural physical comedy talent, as demonstrated in the suggestive food scene.  Yes, that scene might have been too much for underage viewers, but I laughed uproariously through it all.  

My favorite scene in the movie is the “first date” between Darion Basco (the depressed electronic geek) and Liza Lapira (a long-time denizen of many American TV series).  Despite the awkwardness of that first date, both talented actors brought a believability to their romantic meetup which added an endearing warmth and charm to the movie.

Directing yourself in a movie ain’t easy, so kudos to Duke (Dante Basco) for pulling it off.  However, I must admit I wished he had a bigger reason for hooking up with his ex-girlfriend in the Philippines.  While there was a nostalgic regret in their hook-up, it lacked sufficient drama to justify his unfaithfulness to his wife back home.  For instance, if she had had his child, and he discovers it during the hook-up when she has an emotional moment of regretful confession… then the resulting pathos would have been more deeply meaningful.

Ultimately, however, this film is a loving and respectful homage to the Filipino culture, to the many members of the Basco family, and to Pittsburg, California itself (which has a large Filipino population).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10810850/

TAGS:  FABULOUS FILIPINO BROTHERS, Arianne Basco, Dante Basco, Darion Basco, Derek Basco, Dion Basco, Liza Lapira, Solenn Heussaff