November 2002 The Debut

(Nov: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Gallery * Teen Current Issue * Archive

Reviewed by Wilson Morales The Debut Distributor: 5 Card Productions Director: Gene Cajayon Screenplay: Gene Cajayon & John Manal Castro Producer: Lisa Onodera Director of Photography: Hisham Abed Cast: Dante Basco, Tirso Cruz III, Bernadette Balagtas, Joy Bisco, Eddie Garcia, Darion Basco What happens when a family from another comes to the United States? Obviously, the one answer is new beginnings for all. For the Filipino-American Mercado family, patriarch Roland Mercado wants his kids to be a better person and do well in life than work for the postal office like himself. At the same time, he doesn’t want any member to forget who they are and where they came from. Tell that to his son, Ben, who if given the capital and opportunity, would be the Michael Jackson of his family. In writer/director Gene Cajayon’s film, The Debut, he captures the essence of an individual torn between being cool amongst the white society he hangs with and trying to live up to family expectations. Ben Mercado (Dante Basco) is a high school senior looking to be an animator. He already has a scholarship to go to UCLA but for another goal. Much to his reluctance, his father Roland wants him to be a doctor, like most members of his family. Being a Filipino hasn’t always been good to Ben. Not to be ridiculed by his American friends, Ben shields his heritage from his friends whenever it’s necessary. When the family plans a big 18th birthday party for his sister Rose, Ben has other plans. He wants to go to another party thrown by his school friends. While making an appearance at Rose’s party, Ben sees how other Filipinos behave and feels ashamed that he doesn’t understand his own culture. He meets and is attracted to Rose’s best friend, Annabelle. Tension mount when Ben’s grandfather Lolo Carlos arrives and berates his son Roland for not doing much with his life. At the same time, Ben must do battle with an old friend (Darion Basco) for Annabelle’s affection. So much is going on in Ben’s life that it’s making him confused as to who he is. What makes “The Debut” worth seeing is the cast. Dante Basco is charming, as the lead and so are Balagtas and Bisco as Rose and Annabelle. While the dialogue is a bit silly at times, the energetic cast makes up for it with enthusiasm. There are a lot of issues packed in this small film and director Cajayon does a good job of exploring the root of each problem without making it feel contrived or forced. Whether one is African-American, Latino, Filipino, or of any race, one could relate with this film as they try to fit in a different society, so long as they don’t forget their roots.