Introduction to the Philosophy of a Human Person

(MOVIE REVIEW)

Submitted By:
Phoebe Myka S. Lorico

Section:
HUMSS101-B

Submitted to:
Ms. Rhyline Baldeo
 Magnifico: A Life-Altering Movie

We can say in life, nothing is easy, impossible, and perfect, all the things or situations
that we need to deal with are accompanied by pain and suffering, and in those sufferings,
there are things that we cannot get away from, such as daily struggles in our
household/family, and most of all, the grief of losing a loved one. This 2003 Filipino film
“Magnifico'', written by Michiko Yamamoto and directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes. Starring
the main character Jiro Manio as Magnifico, Albert Martinez as Gerry, Lorna Tolentino as
Edna and Gloria Romero as Lola Magda. Furthermore, it talks about the benevolence and
death of a 9 year old boy who came from an impoverished family, yet, he is a street-smart
boy who makes a way to help his family’s life adversities without conditions. The realistic
type of this film is not something you can watch nowadays, but surely brings you out a great
moral lesson.

Magnifico also known as Ikoy, who came from an impoverished town Lumban
Laguna, with his family. Gerry (Albert Martinez), his father doing odd jobs and Edna
( Lorna Tolentino), his mother who usually spends her days at home doing knitting and
taking care of Ikoy’s young sister, Helen (Isabelle De Leon), who suffers from cerebral palsy,
Miong (Danilo Barrios) his eldest brother, who lost his scholarship in Manila. Magnifico
applies himself diligently to tasks with his friend Carlo (Joseph Roble), concocting a remedy
for the mortician's ailments which is his grandmother Lola Magda (Gloria Romero) who’s
aging and got diagnosed with diabetes and pancreatic cancer. This film uses flashbacks and
memories quite effectively.

Considering the themes of this movie is all around, it includes wide thinking but the
themes included are mainly the native of a person's goodness, family's down luck, sibling
relationship, and death in the family which the movie shows what reality is for a family who
doesn't come up for a family planning. These themes showed relevance and significance on
film whereas it revolved around the hardships of Magnifico's family's life which gradually
became less because of him. Moreover, it is an old movie so expecting clearer quality
wouldn't be given to watchers but these indicated parts don't give a hindrance on the film, it
still gave a good sequence of events where it started on his father who showed inappropriate
behavior as a father because he was just trying to build the rubik's cube while smoking which
was followed by his grandmother climb on the roof as a result of accidentally falling on the
roof of a house then suddenly when they got in the hospital she shown a sign that she has
diabetes and cancer, at the same time following the arrival of his older brother who returned
home from Manila because he was removed from the scholar students and the last one was
when Magnifico was studying and reading when his mother showed that she was not
impressed with Magnifico's ability. Right here in this part you can see the underlying
conflicts between them. All the themes, scenarios, and directing of this film were executed
well because it shows how difficult and serious family poverty is.

This film is satisfactory, especially in the application of proper music and acting. The
music that has been used adds to watchers a serious feelings in particular scenes of the film,
just like in the sad scenes showing his younger sister who is struggling because she is sick,
when her grandmother Magda who is sick fell down on her bed and lost consciousness, and
above all, during Magnifico's funeral. Also the simple costumes they used played a big role in
the movie, it also shows relevance, just come up to think that they were born in an
impoverished town. The acting of the cast is epitome. Everyone performed well the role that
they should show in the movie, especially magnifico, who in the mind of his parents is brain-
dead child, but, he is the one who eased the situation of their family, the same with his
mother and father as everyone can see in reality how parents indigent life affect their family,
to his sister who they thought that she would never be able to speak, but again with the help
of magnifico she was able to speak such thing as, 'perya and nay', and above all to her
grandmother who is in pain. Here we can see how Magnifico's influence played a big role in
the entire film.

The overall production of this film is absolutely magnificent. This film served as an
eye-opener for the watchers about the struggles in life especially when it comes to having a
family. Therefore, it shows here how family planning is a must— here is where the parents
are enabled to give their children the basic needs (food, shelter, education, and better future).
To be over, this film show many cases to give the watchers an important life lessons which
they can apply through their journeys in life and also for us to know that it is no longer
important for someone to know or see how you become good or helpful and if what will it
bring back to you, the important thing is that you have a good heart in all situations.
Watching this movie would not just be a moment we can say that it’s time to binge watch it,
thus, in just an hour watching it, it will change you as a person as long as your life
perspectives.