Tackling the subject of pre-teen sexuality and coming-of-age can be a minefield but the director nailed this with great sensitivity and beauty.
A lovely and innocent story of young emotions and the feeling of love and infactuation. Maxi was a great character and really well played by the young actor. The story delivered on lots of levels being filmed amongst the criminality in the slums of Manila and the struggles of families and the crimes that they turn to in order to survive. While interweaving with a story of love that culminates in a powerful scene towards the end of the film (the whistling; you’ll know when you watch it).
I really enjoyed the depths of this film and the great directing in not flinching away from showing the raw truth of the ways of life in these slums and the beauty of love.