Grandpa is Dead (locally known as Ded na si Lolo) was chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines to represent the country in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 82nd Academy Awards. The dramedy bested 11 other films in contention, including Brillante Mendoza's Lola (2009 Dubai International Film Festival's Best Feature Film in the Asia-Africa Category), Francis Xavier Pasion's Jay (2008 Cinemalaya's Best Film), and Chris Martinez's 100 (2008 Pusan International Film Festival's Audience Award).
Why did FAP choose Grandpa is Dead despite not having any award or international filmfest exposure under its belt?
Will it stand a chance against the likes of France's A Prophet and Germany's The White Ribbon, which were both screened in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival? Wouldn't the country, recently tagged by The Hollywood Reporter as a "hotbed of talents," have a better chance of winning if we sent Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza's work instead?
We may speculate on the reason FAP chose Grandpa is Dead, but it isn't difficult to see why. The film exudes a commanding sense of positivism, an element largely missing from the plethora of Filipino movies being recognized abroad. It isn't poverty porn. There's no violence and sex. Grandpa is Dead reflects the characteristics and values unique among Filipinos, like close family ties, optimism, and yes, a peculiar sense of humor.
Told through the eyes of a young boy portrayed by BJ Forbes, Grandpa is Dead is the comedic tale of a family mourning over the death of their patriarch. Unlike the Filipino-Chinese funerals depicted in the Mano Po series, the family is not well-off, so there's no inheritance that the siblings have to fight over. But they fight nevertheless. During the six-day wake, the brood's flair for drama becomes apparent as unresolved issues and family secrets resurface.
The plot seems designed to be an all-out family drama, and it could easily have gone that way. But director Soxie Topacio injected humor into the story through the numerous superstitious beliefs that Filipinos practice, however ridiculous they may appear. When someone dies, it's as if everything is forbidden. You can't wear red. You can't sweep the floor. You can't take a bath. Your tears shouldn't fall on the coffin. And the list goes on.
The humorous script is backed up by an equally comedic delivery from the cast. Roderick Paulate demands your attention as the loud and proud crossdressing sibling. His flamboyant, inane behavior will leave you gasping for breath in laughter. Roderick can easily shift from funny to serious. In the film's dramatic moments, he lends enough humanity to what may initially appear as his caricature of a character. The rest of the cast—Gina Alajar, Elizabeth Oropesa, Dick Israel and Manilyn Reynes—have their own shining moments as well.
Grandpa is Dead mixes the right blend of drama and comedy. This crowd pleaser makes fun of our eccentricities and beliefs. But at its heart, it tells the story of a family staying together and getting stronger amid personal differences and hardships.
Produced by APT Entertainment in cooperation with the Directors Guild of the Philippines, Grandpa is Dead will be screened in California from January 15-16, 2010 during the 21st Palm Springs International Film Festival.