Analysis Of The Movie 'Honor Thy Father'

Ana Mikaela V. Guerrero 12 - Humility

Honor Thy Father

Religion, family and morals. Fore-frontal values that Filipinos are ingrained to prioritize and uphold with utmost regard. From childhood, we are taught to put God in our thoughts, practice his beliefs and take care of our family. Sunday mass, daily gospel reading, scapulars, relics and many more, no matter where we are, it seems as though we can never escape religion. In Erik Matti’s somewhat ironic and sardonic indie film, we see the struggles and hypocrisies encountered by Edgar and his family with religion among other issues. The film follows the life of Edgar (Egay), whose wife, Kaye, entices fellow church goers and friends to invest in her father’s business which turns out

From the droll stares and unparticipative behavior in church, it can be seen that there is a separation between Edgar and faith. Surprisingly, this is a turn from the normal Filipino family that emphasizes the value of faith. The film focused on shedding a different light on religion and at times, cultist tendencies. This is definitely a step forward in our freedom of expression. Since the Spanish occupation, we seem to have created a reluctance to criticize religion most especially Catholicism. We are unable to fully express our thoughts and though some films have toed the line of portraying religion as a controlling entity, none have come as far as “Honor thy father” did. In one scene, the church of Yeshwa is seen to celebrate Egay and Kaye when they were able to give a large amount of tithings but when misfortune struck, the bishop seemed to condemn their actions through gospel and church goers seem to avoid them. Granted that the couple had swindled some of their church members, these brings to mind the teachings instilled by religion and seemingly unwilling members of the faith to help their brother and sister. Does love for thy neighbor then only apply to our good neighbors? Do we not extend the same curtesy to those who had made mistakes and are trying to right them? These questions enter my mind as I see also the hypocritical bishop Tony. Though the couple were

He then travels to his family in Bontoc to ask for help. His brothers, who share that they will be unable to contribute instead helps Egay plan for a heist in order to pay the six million needed. While, they are planning they receive a call that Kaye has been taken as collateral for paying the debt and this makes Egay all the more willing to commit such a crime. At these time in the film, we can see that Egay is at his lowest point of desperation and is seen slowly sinking lower and lower in order to save his family. They steal from Church of Yeshwa and though they were successful, they are still unable to collect the needed amount. With time run out, Egay relies on himself to finish the problem. When he meets with the captors, he kills both and saves Kaye, who is beaten badly and eventually dies. The film ends with Egay continuing to drive to an unforeseen future.

In the question of Egay’s morality, could we really blame him? To sink to his lowest in order to protect the family that he values than none other, he was willing to cross the line of morality. In that light, he portrays the everyday slums of the Philippines. Egay serves as a reflection of the depth that people are willing to go to in order to protect their family. Whether Edgar’s action are deplorable or not, we can never truly judge him for the sacrifice that he had