A Fil-Am docu on Asian activism is debuting on Netflix this December
Photo from PJ Raval
What makes a great documentary film? Is it the unfiltered exposé on social issues? Perhaps, the untold stories of people (and communities) that have long been sidelined by the mainstream? Or is it the ability of the narrative to make you empathize?
Well, “Who We Become: A Story of Kapwa” by Filipinx-American filmmaker PJ Raval ticks all of these boxes, and it’s premiering on Netflix on Dec. 1 in select countries.
According to a Deadline report, this happened after Array Releasing (a.k.a. a film distribution arm “dedicated to narrative change”) picked up the rights to the Fil-Am documentary’s screening in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
It has previously been screened at the 2023 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, the CAAMFest 2023, and the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2023, among others.
On self-discovery and differing beliefs
“Who We Become” follows three Pinays through the turbulent early stages of the pandemic. It explores their separate (yet interconnected) journeys as they grapple with the challenges of a world in crisis.
The film isn’t only about face masks and lockdowns, though; it also delves into the complexities of identity, activism, and family dynamics.
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In fact, Raval had originally set out to focus on the various intersections of clashing political ideologies within Fil-Am households. However, the global health crisis has presented an unexpected opportunity that led him (and his team) to expanding the film’s scope.
Through self-documented video journals, the protagonists Monica Silverio, Lauren Yap, and Jenah Maravilla each represent a different facet of the Fil-Am experience. Black Lives Matter protests, anti-Asian hate crimes, and the 2020 election all serve as the background to their personal narratives.
Silverio’s journey involves challenging conversations with her conservative and devout Catholic parents who struggle to understand her involvement in the BLM movement. Yap, on the other hand, has to live under her parents’ roof post-graduation and navigate their varying POVs on police support and mental health within the Filipinx community.
Meanwhile, Maravilla, an ICU nurse turned poet and advocate, finds herself immersed in the fight for solidarity between Black and Asian communities, all while sharing her evocative poetry.
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“Who We Become” on rediscovering “kapwa”
“Who We Become” also captures the essence of “kapwa,” a Filipino term that encapsulates the notion of togetherness and interconnectedness. It’s a tale of unity, of discovering common ground in the face of adversity, and of navigating the complex interplay of culture, advocacy, and family.
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Aside from the narrative, the storytelling technique also plays a huge role in embodying “kapwa.” The film makes use of seamless vlog-style diaries and screen recordings from the characters’ phones and computers—forging an intimate connection between the subjects despite not having actual banters with each other.
It also offers a fly-on-the-wall perspective that allows audiences to resonate and empathize with the protagonists and their experiences.
