First Taste

The title “Binyag” translates to ‘loss of innocence,’ and this little-known film from the Philippenes shows, very effectively, the process in which one young person loses his own innocence. A boy living a quiet, picturesque life in the Filipino province, spending his days swimming in the sea, is offered a job as a “film star” when a shady “talent scout” visits his small village. He promises the naive Leo that he can “make him a star.” Leo, excited at the idea of escaping his seemingly mundane life, accepts the offer, thus beginning his journey to the city of Manila, where he will learn some hard facts about the world he lives in.

• Philippines