MOVIE REVIEW: Burlesk King (1999)

I have heard of the movie since it was released in 1999 but never actually got the chance to see it until now. I actually think the movie was well written, reasonably acted and accurately portrayed the realities of life in the Philippines, at least on the seedier side but nevertheless a part and a parcel of its national psyche, I dare say even of our national experience.

The movie follows the story of Harry (Rodel Velayo) who was born to a Filipina prostitute mother Betty (Elizabeth Oropesa) and an American abusive father who pimped him to foreign customers as a young boy. On a planned escape on night, Harry and his mother were caught by his father as they were living the shanty they were living in. Harry's mother was beaten unconscious, which prompted Harry to run away to Manila where he met James (Leonardo Litton), who introduced him to Manila's gay bar scene. Eventually, Harry learned to work the ropes and became a male stripper in the club James worked.

Harry met a petite young prostitute Brenda (Nini Jacinto) on whom he eventually fell in love with. They would eventually bear a child towards the end of the movie. The ups and downs of the sex trade eventually catches up with James and he is murdered one night. Harry is devastated with the death of James and moves out of the house he lived with James and his sister, Aileen (Elizabeth Oropesa), who is a lesbian and living with a woman. Harry decides to return to Olongapo City where he was born to finally settle score with his father and discovers that his dad is dying of AIDS. He also meets by accident his mother who he thought was killed when he was young. They re-unite and eventually move-in with Brenda.

Mario, a gay writer Harry met in the strip club and on whom he established a good friendship finally gets the love and full attention of his erstwhile uncommitted doctor boyfriend. Towards the end of the movie, Harry is convinced by Betty to bring home his father, finally closing his lingering issues with him.

I never thought that the movie was more than just about the carnal escapades of Manila's night life, it was actually a heart warming movie of family struggles, friendship, commitment, forgiveness, love and the search for happiness. It is definitely a must watch for the mature audience and clearly presents in a human and non-judgemental way the struggle for acceptance. In the end, the movie presents the timeless and perennial theme of human life, that love indeed does conquer all, that friendships matter and that family is family, no matter what.