Love and Videotapes Huling Palabas

Film

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Feature Film

Logline

(15-20w)

In 2001, a teenager in the Philippines fanatically watches VHS tapes, which fuel his queer awakening.

Information

Programme History

Part of Queer East Festival 2025

Runtime: 97 Mins
Year: 2024
Country: Philippines

In the summer of 2001, in a small town in the Philippines, 16-year-old Andoy searches for his long-lost father: in VHS tapes. Together with his best friend Pido, a fellow film buff, he browses the local video store and attends communal TV viewing sessions; by watching movies together, the pair cement their friendship and gain moments of respite from the harsh realities of life. But for Andoy, video also serves to fuel his sexual awakening and emerging queer desire. When he befriends charismatic hairdresser Ariel and mysterious newcomer Isidro, Andoy begins to ask himself who he wants to be. Ryan Machado’s first feature is a dreamlike coming-of-age tale that uses magic realism to depict the teenager’s journey of self-discovery. It tenderly evokes the Philippines’ bygone VHS culture which is - like Andoy’s childhood - on the brink of disappearing forever.