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 plays 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.