Jess, appears to be your regular run of the mill sort of Filipino, trying to get the hell out the country towards a better life. His initial motivation seem to be a reunion with his fiance and monetary gains, the impression that stood out most was the latter. Also, his life in the Philippines seems to be a hassle: His father has high blood pressure, and is almost deaf, his fiance is abroad, he's got money problems, he can't get a visa, he works a low to medium paying job, in short: life sucks. But as the story progresses, this down and out cab driver, realizes he's got more reasons to stay than to leave. He's got a son, he rekindles his romance with Mara and after all the bending over backwards just to get a visa, he realizes he wouldn't trade in his father, his family and his dignity just to go to the United States. He trades in material wealth for emotional wealth, which in itself is a social commentary - as many Filipinos are making the exact opposite choice. So in short, instead of running away from his responsibilities at home (i.e. the Philippines) to start anew in a foreign land (US or wherever), he elects to stay to fulfill said responsibilities. More on that later.
Next Character is the father. At first he appears to be a bumbling buffoon, tripping on Viagras and giving Jess a hard time. In other words, he's a joke. Further down the line however, the father becomes a source of knowledge and good advice for Jess. He helps to turn Jess' attitude and ideas around. He serves as an emotional anchor for our hero, thus helping our hero's transformation! I believe that he also goes from, an antagonist (nagger, bothersome, etc.) to a very good friend of Jess', once Jess comes around.
The reverse happens to Annette. At the beginning of the story she appears to be the model fiance, awaiting the arrival of her betrothed. This is established by telephone calls early in the movie. She inquires about Jess' fathers health and even sends him hearing aids. Perfect. But wait. Trouble starts to surface, as her calls become increasingly impatient and suspicious. She quickly develops into something quite similar as Jess' father in the beginning. A hassle. A constant thorn in Jess' side. This builds up gradually until he searches for alternatives to his.... uh.... loneliness. She never seems content. Perhaps this is a commentary on how Americans are raised? To consume. Never content. Always asking for more. The western way. Perhaps she is consumerism / capitalism embodied?
Next come the cultural references. Aside from what was mentioned above, there are other disguised social commentary in the movie, some hidden, others more obvious. First off, are the crabs. One is led to believe the two young boys are selling prostitutes but they are actually selling crabs. As many people know, the Philippines is not actually known for its cuisine, but more as a sex tourism spot. So they disguised the issue behind comedy. Also a characteristic of Filipino culture. When we see something wrong, we tend to make fun of the issue rather than deal with it.
Next that I saw was desperation. The applicants at the United States Embassy all had Ash Wednesday crosses on their forehead. As if they were all praying. They turn to God for their solutions. This is later added on at a prayer rally. Where Jess' father needs to defecate. Jess jokingly says: we'll pray for your urge to take a dump to go away. This looks like another critique disguised with a joke. As if prayer could make a NATURAL URGE go away - or perhaps poverty, for that matter?
The next major social issue that was shown throughout the movie was that 'EVERYTHING IS A SCAM'. The scene with the faith healer, their 'Christo' who gave them a French exit, before they could shoot etc. It depicts the Filipinos doing anything to make a quick buck. In fact, Nigel's whole shoot is a fake. He just replaces Jess with the missing 'Christo'.
The movie also shows the extremes of our society. The scene in the strip club where Jess takes his two foreign guests for a beer and a snack. They don't serve meat during holy week, but they are in a house of baud. How ironic. We will stick to the tenets of Christianity - it's not ok to eat meat during holy week, but it's acceptable to have strip clubs. What has society come to. In this same scene there is -i don't know whether to call it - class or race discrimination. The waiter allows one of the foreigners to smoke, while he promptly tells Jess that he can't smoke within the premises of the club.
As far as other major symbolism goes, I think the biggest one was Jess symbolically dying on the cross. This symbolizes his turning point in the story. He undergoes a change after being crucified, but he doesn't know it until he's about to leave. The similarity to Christs alleged sacrifice is there. Christ supposedly died for the sins of the world, then rises again. For Jess on the other hand this 'death' symbolizes rebirth. It also symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice. After all he has done, all the trials and efforts to find a way into the United States, his 'Promised Land', he now pays 'the ultimate price'. He slowly gains a new perspective on things, and sees things for what they are. He begins to appreciate the little things around him. Things that he will miss abroad and these are the same things that are worth staying for and things may not be perfect here, but they aren't perfect there either and it's appreciating the things that you have here that counts. NAKS. The woman who reminds Jess of his mother is perhaps a personification of what he might become once he makes the move to Florida. She is ashamed of her country.
I think all the comedy aside, the central theme of this movie is responsibility. In other words take responsibility. Don't flee the country in hopes of a better life, rather stay and do what you can here. Running away from problems won't solve anything. In fact, it just makes them worse. Our protagonist learned this the hard way.
The grand idea behind the story and theme, I would venture to say is a critique and encouragement to people planning to leave the country for no better reason than material gain. It is a call to remain here and do what one can. It's a call to count ones blessings and to contentment. On the other side however, it's easy for the film's producers to make such a comment, when they are part of the middle or upper class. I think convincing people to stay and do their patriotic duty is gong to be a little tougher. I also find it ironic that they critique our society for covering up our shortcomings by making jokes out of it, by making a comedy to the opposite effect. (This is going to sound so elitist, but here it goes.) I doubt the masses even have the education level to recognize the somewhat sophisticated works of symbolism in the fil, (which is perhaps why they added the chorus? For some old school flavor and more direct commentary?). I'll be bold enough to suggest my take on the subject. I would have approached the subject in a more direct manor. Straight to the point in your face realities.
So, do I like the movie? Yes, I do. I just think all the symbolism and social critique went to waste. But it doesn't diminish the films entertainment value.
Next come the cultural references. Aside from what was mentioned above, there are other disguised social commentary in the movie, some hidden, others more obvious. First off, are the crabs. One is led to believe the two young boys are selling prostitutes but they are actually selling crabs. As many people know, the Philippines is not actually known for its cuisine, but more as a sex tourism spot. So they disguised the issue behind comedy. Also a characteristic of Filipino culture. When we see something wrong, we tend to make fun of the issue rather than deal with it.
Next that I saw was desperation. The applicants at the United States Embassy all had Ash Wednesday crosses on their forehead. As if they were all praying. They turn to God for their solutions. This is later added on at a prayer rally. Where Jess' father needs to defecate. Jess jokingly says: we'll pray for your urge to take a dump to go away. This looks like another critique disguised with a joke. As if prayer could make a NATURAL URGE go away - or perhaps poverty, for that matter?
The next major social issue that was shown throughout the movie was that 'EVERYTHING IS A SCAM'. The scene with the faith healer, their 'Christo' who gave them a French exit, before they could shoot etc. It depicts the Filipinos doing anything to make a quick buck. In fact, Nigel's whole shoot is a fake. He just replaces Jess with the missing 'Christo'.
The movie also shows the extremes of our society. The scene in the strip club where Jess takes his two foreign guests for a beer and a snack. They don't serve meat during holy week, but they are in a house of baud. How ironic. We will stick to the tenets of Christianity - it's not ok to eat meat during holy week, but it's acceptable to have strip clubs. What has society come to. In this same scene there is -i don't know whether to call it - class or race discrimination. The waiter allows one of the foreigners to smoke, while he promptly tells Jess that he can't smoke within the premises of the club.
As far as other major symbolism goes, I think the biggest one was Jess symbolically dying on the cross. This symbolizes his turning point in the story. He undergoes a change after being crucified, but he doesn't know it until he's about to leave. The similarity to Christs alleged sacrifice is there. Christ supposedly died for the sins of the world, then rises again. For Jess on the other hand this 'death' symbolizes rebirth. It also symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice. After all he has done, all the trials and efforts to find a way into the United States, his 'Promised Land', he now pays 'the ultimate price'. He slowly gains a new perspective on things, and sees things for what they are. He begins to appreciate the little things around him. Things that he will miss abroad and these are the same things that are worth staying for and things may not be perfect here, but they aren't perfect there either and it's appreciating the things that you have here that counts. NAKS. The woman who reminds Jess of his mother is perhaps a personification of what he might become once he makes the move to Florida. She is ashamed of her country.
I think all the comedy aside, the central theme of this movie is responsibility. In other words take responsibility. Don't flee the country in hopes of a better life, rather stay and do what you can here. Running away from problems won't solve anything. In fact, it just makes them worse. Our protagonist learned this the hard way.
The grand idea behind the story and theme, I would venture to say is a critique and encouragement to people planning to leave the country for no better reason than material gain. It is a call to remain here and do what one can. It's a call to count ones blessings and to contentment. On the other side however, it's easy for the film's producers to make such a comment, when they are part of the middle or upper class. I think convincing people to stay and do their patriotic duty is gong to be a little tougher. I also find it ironic that they critique our society for covering up our shortcomings by making jokes out of it, by making a comedy to the opposite effect. (This is going to sound so elitist, but here it goes.) I doubt the masses even have the education level to recognize the somewhat sophisticated works of symbolism in the fil, (which is perhaps why they added the chorus? For some old school flavor and more direct commentary?). I'll be bold enough to suggest my take on the subject. I would have approached the subject in a more direct manor. Straight to the point in your face realities.
So, do I like the movie? Yes, I do. I just think all the symbolism and social critique went to waste. But it doesn't diminish the films entertainment value.
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