Closer to Home weaves a universal, haunting tale of two people inexorably drawn together for vastly different reasons. Dalisay struggles to journey from the Philippine countryside to New York City to marry Dean, a disillusioned ex-merchant marine. She’s hoping to buy a cure for her dying sister and, ultimately, a future for her debt-ridden family, while he hopes to escape his disintegrating American family through love and a family of his own. A powerful, controversial film that quietly builds to a shattering collision of aspirations and cultures.
A critically acclaimed film featured in 30 international film festivals in 17 countries around the world...
"A fine debut. Another Green Card Romance, but this time, the broader canvas--in both the Philippines and the US--gives the story a wider emotional range and a near epic feel." (3 of 4 stars)-Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
"...a creative and rewarding juxtaposition of two cultures, two families and two interesting individuals...a new look at the Filipino-American relationship..." Nestor U. Torre, Philippine Daily Inquirer
"This strong, effective social drama cross-cuts between the cultures of the Philippines (richly observed) and the United States (as the empire downsizes) to give a recognizable if not always heartening portrait of the complexities of contemporaneous world relationships that evolve 'when strangers meet'." -Hawaii International Film Festival
"...an epic, enthralling tale..." -Virginia Film Festival
"...so beautifully, so convincingly and honestly presented one cannot help but be touched"--Ethel Ramos, Malaya
"...wholesome, intelligent film for the discriminating Filipino audience...we can see ourselves in the eyes of an American who loves us."--Billy Balbastro, Abante
"...bound to make heads turn and touch a lot of Filipino hearts..." -Ricky Lo, The Philippine Star
Official Selection at the following International Film Festivals
Montreal International Film Festival
Philippine World Cinema Centennial, Manila
Chicago International Film Festival
Virginia Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
India International Film Festival
La Rochelle International Film Festival
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Istanbul International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival
Filipino American Film & Video Festival
Sao Paulo International Film Festival
Valadolid International Film Festival
Shanghai International Film Festival
Cambridge Film Festival
Cairo International Film Festival
Denver International Film Festival
Oslo International Film Festival
Kansas Film Fest
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Travelling Festival of Cinema of Rennes
Copenhagen Film Festival
Amiens International Film Festival
Human Rights Festival, Roma
University of the Philippines UP Film Center - Cinemalibre
Philippine Centennial Festival (USA) at Lincoln Center
Oklahoma City University Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film and Literature Oklahoma City, OK 73106 United States National Central University Jhongli City, Taiwan, Republic of China Ateneo de Manila UniversityMakati City, Manila 1200 Philippines Vancouver Public LibraryVancouver, B.C. V6B 6B1 Canada Indiana University Libraries Bloomington, IN 47405 United States Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 United States California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CA 91360 United States
