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Dive into the realities of fatherhood as explored in film with these Filipino movie picks
MANILA, Philippines – Family dynamics have always been complicated and the film industry has captured a plethora of complex, often frustrating, but also loving relationships between fathers, mothers, and children. Philippine cinema has a fair share of these domestic tales, often shedding light on the social realities many face.
One of the many relationships explored in these films concerns that of fathers and their family ties. Often considered as the “head of the family” or as breadwinners, these five films probe the different dynamics of fatherhood beyond societal expectations. So grab your dads and some boxes of tissues and enjoy these portrayals of fatherhood on film!
Seven Sundays
The ultimate power of reconnection and dance battles are at the forefront of this unforgettable film.
A heart-warming comedy-drama, Seven Sundays (2017), explores themes of reconciliation within families. The sudden cancer diagnosis of the family patriarch, Manuel Bonifacio (Ronaldo Valdez), has forced the estranged Bonifacio siblings (Aga Mulach, Dingdong Dantes, Christine Reyes and Enrique Gil) to spend seven Sundays with their widowed father and each other. As time passes by, they are forced to confront past issues and rebuild relationships as they attend to their ailing patriarch in his final moments.
Cathy Gracia-Molina’s Seven Sundays is sure to tug at the heartstrings of each Filipino. Central to Philippine cinema is the portrayal of families as it is deemed relatable to many. The film’s special focus also discusses an aging father’s fear of abandonment and loneliness, depicting how dysfunctional dynamics brought about by time and distance can hurt families.
Honor Thy Father
A family man has to do what he has to do. Erik Matti’s Honor Thy Father (2015) takes a neo-noir approach as it explores the father’s role as the family protector against forces that constantly pose a threat to his loved ones.
Edgar (John Lloyd Cruz) and his wife Kaye (Meryll Soriano) are caught in financial trouble after being unable to pay off their debts to their local church. With their main source of financial aid — Kaye’s father — gone, coupled with looming death threats, Edgar has no choice but to recruit help from his criminal family to save his daughter from the hands of death. What ensues is an exploration of greed, oppression, and a father’s unwavering love.
Honor Thy Father blends the familiar role of fathers as providers and protectors with the gritty reality of greed.
Doll House
Catch the journey of a struggling rockstar’s transition into responsibility as he cares for his young daughter.
Marla Ancheta’s Doll House (2022), revolves around Rustin (Baron Geisler), a rock band vocalist who struggles with drug addiction, while trying rekindle his relationship with his long-lost daughter, Yumi (Althea Ruedas). After the untimely death of a friend, Rustin flees to Rotterdam to get his life set.
As the story unfolds, what emerges is a pattern of sobriety and relapse, a harsh reality that many have dealt with. The power of preserving love between a father and his child is what is considered a guiding light for this film. However, how far will that connection go when a father is already far gone, and how will a daughter’s love persevere despite it all?
Instant Daddy
Looking for a good laugh and a good cry at the same time? Instant Daddy (2023) is Filipino “found-family” dramedy that explores a man’s balancing act between unexpected fatherhood and confronting generational trauma.
When Valentin “Val” Rojas (Jerald Napoles) was abandoned by his mother at a young age, his father fabricated letters from his “OFW mother” just to make him feel loved by her. Upon this revelation, Val flees to Metro Manila to a life of commitment issues and multiple love affairs ignited by the scars of his childhood.
When an ex-lover of his, Julie Villalobos (Danita Paner), introduces him to their “child” Mira (Althea Ruedas), Val becomes an instant daddy as he tries his best to care for his daughter. What happens is a whirlwind of events that helps Val overcome his issues while developing a fatherly relationship with Mira. But, the question remains: is he truly her father?
Northern Lights: A Journey To Love
In Northern Lights (2017), Charlie Sr. (Piolo Pascual) is a Filipino immigrant living in Alaska, living life as a bachelor. His carefree days suddenly come to a halt as he is tasked to take care of his estranged son Charlie Jr. (Raikko Mateo) who came to stay with him in a foreign country.
As he juggles his new responsibilities as a dad, he meets a young Filipina, Angel (Yen Santos), who travels to Alaska in search of her mother. The two begin a relationship as Angel navigates her own issues and Charlie Sr. tries to fit in his new role as a father.
Helmed by Dondon S. Santos, the film explores fatherhood in a different direction, one that concerns finding oneself, understanding priorities, and having the capacity to love. Initially distant from his son, Charlie Sr. tries his hardest to connect with his him, ultimately understanding where his responsibilities lie. – Rappler.com
Mikay Tormon is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Sociology at the Ateneo de Manila University.
