Movie No. 58 (2016): LANDO AT BUGOY

Lando At Bugoy (2016)
Director: Victor Acedillo Jr.
Cast: Allen Dizon, Gold Azeron, Roger Gonzales

The movie's focus is on a strained father and son relationship. Lando, a 40-year-old tombstone engraver, now a widower, is a high school dropout. His son, Bugoy, a delinquent high school student, disrespects and spites him. Bugoy thinks that his father has no moral ascendancy to force him to take his schooling seriously because the latter doesn't have the brains to finish high school. Bugoy then makes a dare: he will take his schooling seriously if his father goes back to high school and finish his schooling, too. Bugoy's dare is not serious. To his surprise and dismay, however, Lando gives in to the challenge. 

The movie, in general, is inspiring. In fact, it is based on a true story. It's a good thing that it does not fall into the trap called preaching. Instead, the movie presents its point lightly despite some uncomfortable confrontations between father and son. The movie succeeds in presenting the struggles of father and son and how both characters discover realities about themselves, their classmates, and neighbors in the small community they belong to. 

There are scenes where Lando or Bugoy is shown threading a rocky beach on his way to school or home. The sunken cemetery, which is a famous landmark of Camiguin, is conspicuous on the backdrop. I don't know if it's a way to promote the place or it really has artistic relevance to the narrative. In my opinion, it is not necessary. But, it doesn't dilute the movie's good points. This kind of movie is not a function of the milieu because the centerpiece of the movie is the father-and-son relationship.

Another minor flaw of the movie, in my opinion, is the excessive number of scenes showing father and son bickering or spiting each other. 

Rating: 3.0/4.0

Date seen: August 7, 2016