DEATH OF NINTENDO

Philippines, 2020, 89 minutes, Colour.
Noel Comia Jr, Kim Oquendo, John Vincent Servillo, Jiggerfelip Sementilla, Elijah Alejo.
Directed by Raya Martin.

A Filipino film about rites of passage, from young childhood to puberty, a theme, of course, that is universal. And this is symbolised by the title, the boys in this film loving computer games but moving on towards more adult issues, right of circumcision, issues of sexuality, developing relationships.

The film is set in the provincial town, the families there not poor, comfortable homes, modern, and plenty of computer games.

The film begins with an earthquake and the central boy, Paolo, terrified but reassured by his mother. Paolo has plenty of computer games and shares them with his friends. Then, they all go out together, lots of sex talk, no action, and a preoccupation with being circumcised. In fact, they go to a guru who can perform the cutting and go through with it.

There are other adults, parents and the film who discuss their children. But the focus is on Paolo and his friends, the boys and a sympathetic girl.

They also caught up in some of the Filipino myths of the area and decide to go on a quest to explore these myths.

An interesting culturally different story about adolescent rites of passage.


1. The title? Computer games? Alternate activities? The computer game mentality, especially with the young?

2. The Filipino city, wealth, and comfortable, homes and styles, social life, games and technology? Servants? Parents and care, children and responses?

3. The focus on Paulo, the earthquake and his fear, the calm of his mother, with his friends, the boys, playing the computer games, the new game? The young girl and her friendship?

4. Going out and around, their age, puberty, boys and the sex talk (just talk), the young girl and her being genuine?

5. His mother, the range of other parents, their discussions?

6. Going on the expedition, action, decision about circumcision, going to the Guru, the process, cutting, the bandages, pain, the aftermath? Rite of passage?

7. The boys and their talk, stories and myths, a final expedition, their quest?

8. The themes of rites of passage?