The Little Boy is Now A Lady

You're probably familiar with Maxi: the young, effeminate protagonist of the acclaimed independent film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros. In case you aren't, here's a trailer to acquaint you with the charming twelve year old:




Although the movie's representation of male homosexuality still falls under what one may consider stereotypical, the fact that Maxi is an adolescent renders it fresh—a far cry from the usual, more mainstream films centering on gayness. Instead of dealing with issues on Maxi's sexuality, the movie focuses more on his relationships with the people surrounding him, particularly his family and his love interest Victor, treating his being gay as natural, instead of an issue that needs some dwelling on.

Maxi's home environment is very macho. He lives with three straight men—his father and his two older brothers—who all happen to be archetypally macho. Given these circumstances, one might assume that the family would be against Maxi's homosexuality. This, however, is not the case. All three men show no opposition the their bunso's effeminacy and even make jokes about it by telling him to buy sanitary napkins for himself and calling him sister. The same goes with Victor—the young police officer whom Maxi develops a crush on.

I find it rather curious that the vagueness of Victor's sexuality was maintained throughout the film, making his character a possible resistance to commonplace notions on masculinity, given the close relationship he develops with Maxi.