The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros), directed by Aureaus Solito, is a coming-of-age film about twelve-year-old Maximo Oliveros (played by Nathan Lopez). His mother is dead, his father Paco (played by Soliman Cruz) is a gangster, and his two older brothers, Boy (played by Neil Ryan Sese) and Bogs (played by Ping Medina), are partners in crime. Maximo takes on wifely duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing, sewing, and even braiding the head of his brother Bogs. When the film begins, the hand-held camera reveals the abject poverty of the Sampaloc slum in Manila where the Oliveros family lives. The positive sights are the hugs and respect shown among family members and the playfulness of the very young children. Although publicity about the film declares that Maximo is gay, in fact he is merely an effeminate boy who enjoys wearing women’s clothes and ornamentation, though not to excess; he does not engage in sex or associate with gays. His devotion to his family is most exemplary. One day, however, two older boys attempt to rape him. Police recruit Victor Perez (played by JR Valentin) stops the rough stuff, whereupon Maxi begins to fall in love with him. Maxi’s efforts to see Victor, however, are resented by his family, who fear that a police friend will eventually know too much about their criminal activities. One night, Maxi’s two older brothers beat up Victor, but Maxi goes to Victor's apartment to nurse him back to health, infuriating the family even more. They insist that Maxi must never see Victor again, and tears flow from Maxi. Soon, paternalistic Victor comes under the wing of a hardened boss, who has been reassigned to Sampaloc and is eager to settle a score with Maxi’s father, using a pistol. More tears flow from Maxi. Now fatherless, his brothers are more supportive of Maxi, and they prepare him for school, even ironing his uniform. As he walks to school one early morning, Victor spots him and stops so that Maxi might say “Hi.” Maxi’s maturity is revealed in that final scene as he walks by Victor without swishing, while giving him no sign of recognition. MH
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