In his feature film debut, New York filmmaker Ron Morales tells a coming-of-age story that defies the quirky Sundance sensibility, and instead conveys the awkward time of adolescence with quiet dignity.

When his mother unexpectedly dies in an accident, Hector is suddenly sent from America to live with his estranged grandmother in Manila. Meeting for the first time, they experience an overwhelming emotional and cultural gulf that is exacerbated by the lack of a common language. Hector stands out in this new social world; his American body is mammalian and clumsy—much more suited for the wide open suburbs in which he was raised—compared to the wily gang of teenagers he meets who weasel in and out of the narrow alleys of the barrio.

But Hector is unflinchingly earnest as he attempts to adjust into his new environment. He strikes a friendship with Sel, a local girl who wants to escape the isolation of her home, and learns photography from an older man Jose, whose cranky demeanor masks his regretful past. When Hector discovers clues about Jose’s history, he attempts to help him reconcile his burdened sense of regret, but is met with unfortunate consequences, which compromise his friendships.

With astute performances, this mature film, like Hector, is tender and sincere in its execution. Shot on location in the Philippines, cinematographer Yaron Orbach portrays the barrio of Santa Mesa as a place of unadorned beauty—so that it would not be so far-fetched that Hector could call it home.

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