La Visa Loca, is the story of Jess Huson (Robin Padilla), a taxi driver with a big dream of securing a visa to work abroad and be with his girlfriend. After a failed attempt to pass an immigration interview, Jess embarks into a trip of twists, turns, sharp curves and detours that led him to finally achieve his lifetime dream. But in the process, he uncovers the treasure that would hound his very reason of living. Will the treasure keep him from leaving Philippines or will he set his dreams aside and build the future he’s always wanted right within his own backyard?
Going gaga for a Visa
Losing all hopes of someday working abroad, Jess enters into all sorts of trade just to earn money to cover for his application expenses. He bit the bait that a politician is rumored of paying for the people he beats whenever he is under the influence of alcohol. He had himself beaten by the politician’s aide, but never got a single penny for his pain. He religiously attends prayer rallies hoping for a miracle from the heavens. Until he meets a producer from Strange Planet, an international TV program, seeking to feature the life of faith healers in the Philippines.
Opportunity cost
Desperate for a good story, Jess set out an agreement to help them search for a Kristo, to re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on a Good Friday. In return, they will secure him a Visa and a work as a caregiver in the United States.
After his father (Johnny Delgado), being a former Kristo, declined to do the job, Jess went on his way in search of a willing Kristo. He found one at a reasonable price. In the course of his search, Jess discovers secrets of his past: about his mother whom he thought was dead, a mother who never came back after leaving for the United States; about his son from a past lover (Rufa Mae Quinto), a past lover willing to re-unite for the sake of the child.
Closed deal
With a Kristo to play the role, Jess’ dream is within reach. But a series of unfortunate events took toll. The Kristo swindled them, left without any word. Desperate for a good show, the producer went wild, cursing and bad mouthing the Philippines. Without a Kristo and seeing his dream burst like bubble into thin air, Jess agreed to play the role. He was crucified on Good Friday. And he got his Visa. And he unknowingly made himself a Kristo, just like his father.
Now that his ready to leave for the United States, Jess faces his toughest decision yet-leaving his father in a nursing home and leaving his newly established family behind. He’s decided. He’s leaving the next day.
Ready for take off
On the eve of his departure, Jess heard his father, an avid radio listener, comment on the airwave expressing his regret that a loved one is leaving and that he realized his son’s worth now that he’s gone.
On his way back to the hotel to surrender the taxi he’s been driving, he had a Filipina passenger with a foreigner buddy. The woman kept of cussing her country. Jess caught her in the eye only to look into the very eyes of a mother, a mother whom he grew up presuming dead but instead left her family, married a foreigner and never came back.
Before leaving, Jess thought of paying his father a last visit. Delighted to see his son, the father was ecstatic. And so the defining moment for the movie:
Father: Binibisita mo ako anak? (Are you visiting me son?)
Son: Hindi itay,kukunin na kita. Uuwi na tayo!!! (No father, I’m taking you with me, we’re going home)
The American dream
Jess is no different from most of the Filipinos seeking salvation in foreign lands, ready to risk everything for money and better future. The movie, I assume, does not, in a way or another, seek to promote the idea of working abroad, it just seeks to lay the blueprint of our core culture, colonial and yet very Filipino. But in Jess’ case, he chose to stay.
Credit
The movie, independent as it may be, is best indulged with an open heart and mind, ready to accept the jologs culture with its comical satire mixed with the well bred wit of classy and well-thought filmmaking, scoring and cinematography. The actors played a well good part on the success of the film, as I would agree that Robin Padilla did deliver the best performance in his career, away from his mainstream typecast as an action star.
In the end, watching the movie is certainly worth my money. Yes, I watched it years after its release and I’m leaving a review way behind time. But then again, it’s the very reason I watch films after the limelight is gone, for good films and movies are timeless. And sure enough, La Visa Loca is a good film.
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picture credit is from
here
