Die Beautiful is a groundbreaking Filipino film that accurately depicts the journey and struggles of a boy named Patrick who transitions into a transgender named Tricia Echeverria. Paolo Ballesteros gives a masterful performance as Patrick/Trisha.
Told from a series of flashbacks, the title comes from the main character's last request of dressing her in different beautiful outfits and making her look like famous celebrities while lying in state during the traditional seven day wake usually observed in Filipino culture.
From his miserable childhood by having a conservative father who despise her until she became a mother herself after adopting a little girl, it is an eye opener to a world that we haven't seen in Philippine cinema, the real and raw life of a transgender. We are aware of the lives of the more famous ones: from Bb Gandanghari of the Philippines to Catlyn Jenner of the US. Trisha's life story though, mirrors the ordinary ones who make a living by joining gay beauty pageants organized by small towns across the country and investing the money they won by enhancing features that make them fully female.
For me, Ballesteros gives one of the best performance in Philippine cinema. The transformation from Patrick to Trisha is a complex task that he passes with flying colors. He is known in real life globally, thanks to social media as the one who can transform into different celebrities using the power of makeup. He uses that into full advantage and it works. This ain't the Paolo we usually see everyday on TV. He is Trisha!!
Credit is also due to Christian Bables, who plays Trisha's best friend and close confidante Barbs. He gives life to a best friend role that does not stereotype gays. After the movie, you will long to have a Barbs in your life.
Die Beautiful is director Jun Lana's masterpiece and one of the best films of 2016. The film, Ballesteros and Bables should not be forgotten come awards season time. Have an open mind in watching the film and it will be an eye opener to you.
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