Movie Review: Padre de Pamilya

An honest and mind-boggling film

For love of family, a father will do anything and everything. Even if it is against his will, the pillar of the home will still do it just to satisfy the needs of his loved ones and to make both ends meet.

This is how the story goes with the movie entitled Padre de Pamilya, an independent film written, produced, and directed by Cesar Evangelista Buendia. The film demonstrates a loving father and due to financial constraints he was able to do dishonest act just to provide his family their needs. He was enticed with the money offered to him but in the end caught him to jail.

The short account

An inspiring film, Padre de Pamilya is a story about the Mirasol family who has strong faith as good Catholic Christians. Joselito Mirasol, the father, wishes to give his family all their needs. With meager income as government personnel, his salary is not enough. Temptation is always near Joselito because he is working under a corrupt official, the mayor.

Due to financial needs, while his brother suffers from health problem and his eldest son needs new computer set for studies, Joselito is tempted to do the corrupt act. But he does not know that he has been setup by a reported who investigates corrupt practices. Joselito unfortunately was discharged from work.

Going out from job, with him is an evidence of the mayor’s illegal practices. Edu, his eldest son finds a way to unveil corrupt acts of the mayor not until his father told him about the proof. Edu then dealt with the reporter who exposes malpractices of government official for a special interview with Joselito.

During the day, Edu and the reporter waited for long hours but his father did not show up. Instead, Joselito went to the mayor’s house and laid down for a deal. Everything went smoothly; Mirasol family had already a better life with the help of the mayor. But, Edu has still in his thoughts about the event.

Reflections of the film

Based mainly on real-life situations, the film pictures out on what current times are doing to Filipino families. The movie was of a different kind than what most people usually see on big screens. The story was something very much realistic and is happening in the Philippine setup with every Filipino household.

The point that was being thrown was the prioritization of the ones he loved – whether his family or God. During the length of the story, man was given the freewill to choose between right and wrong. Because of love, the father in the film was forced to use his power to cheat to earn. He was even desperate enough that he forgot the Bible’s teachings.

Although he always prays and instills to his children’s minds its value, the father thought that there was no way out of his family from misery and that only cheating will set them from the problem. However, the mayor in the film is a replica of a typical politician who had power and wealth.

The movie does not focus only to the youth of today but to every Filipino as a whole. The story was able to give reflection on personal lives and how freedom is governed. It also tells that the country has to change. There are those politicians that are dishonest and corrupt. Filipinos should not always pray for solutions, we should also be the answer to it.

Through spiritual guidance and love, the country has to be rebuilt with right and trusted people. It has to start from us – as Filipino citizens. The film is also an eye opener to what the country is undergoing now and how we could help make it better in the future.

Thoughts from the director

For more than 300 schools nationwide, Cesar Evangelista Buendia shared to Filipino youth the meaning of his movie “Padre de Pamilya”. He was able to make a film without thinking that he could crash somebody because, according to him, “this is what truth is”. He keeps on apologizing because his generation affected today’s generation.

Cesar related that the line “Honesty is the best policy” had once emerged during his time before. However, he continued that “It’s better to cheat than to repeat” is what most students put into practice nowadays. “Corruption is once cheating before,” he explained with conviction.

The independent director further asserted that cheating and corruption are one in the same. Cesar confided that the culture of dishonesty and cheating is from an inheritance of the past, of which it is his generation. “If not now, when?” he asked to the youth on the stoppage of the behavior.

Relating to family, the producer-writer said that the problem of Filipinos is that they love more their family than God. “That’s why they do things against their conscience,” Cesar belatedly uttered.

Produced with the Jesuit Communications and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, Cesar shared that Padre de Pamilya mirrors the decay of society of which teenagers are presented with the bold truth.

A student activist at the University of the Philippines before, the director cited that the story of the film evolves to a family, the church, the public school, a municipal hall, and even a TV news program. Cesar revealed that the movie has stronger and bolder message against poverty and corruption. He is determined in depicting the perils of corruption and even included severely bold statements against politicians.

As writer, director, and producer of Padre de Pamilya, Cesar concluded that movie with a disturbing ending bound to draw mixed reactions and sentiments from viewers and eventually move them in a different way. The film steps the apathy of the youth and Filipino people, he stated seriously.

“I hope this film will inspire more people to stand up and fight for their right,” Cesar said with great anticipation. The plot of the movie shows what really is happening, he continued. However, he criticized that if electoral system is not credible, “how do you begin to have good governance?” he then questioned.

On the other hand, Cesar still believe in the Filipino. The film is also a must-see for every Filipino youth and citizen who still hopes for change in the government system. Padre de Pamilya has been endorsed to schools as a requirement for their students.