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Posted:
Wed., Jan. 14, 2004, 2:25pm PT
Lumpia
A Kid Heroes (Los Angeles) production, in association with Xylophone Films.
Produced by Darriel Ginelsa, Patricio Ginelsa Jr. Co-producer, A.J. Calomay. Directed,
written by Patricio Ginelsa Jr.
With: Carlos Baon, Francisco Custodio,
Edward Baon, Elizabeth Mendoza, Dennis Custodio, Carlo Ricafort, Richard Cabatic,
Roy Pimintel, Brian Lucas, Philip Sison, Paloma Belara.
Narrator: Joy Bisco.
(Tagalog
and English dialogue)
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By
KEN EISNER
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Taking
low-budget to new heights, "Lumpia" is a youth project that got delightfully
out of hand. Shot on vid in South-of-Frisco Daly City over a period of six years,
genre-spoofing pic is riddled with discontinuities -- the thesps keep gaining
and losing height and weight -- that only add to the fun. Leroid David's deft
cartoon panels frame the action and set the tone for Patricio Ginelsa's street-level
affectionate look at kid culture among Filipino immigrants. Pic should click with
ethnic-minded fests, and should be shown in high-school media classes across the
continent.
Rambling
plot centers on conflict between established immigrants, entrenched with straight-outta-Compton
attitude, and more naive islanders fresh off the boat. Newly named James (Francis
Custodio) and his nerdy crew are always in danger from big cheese Tyrone (Edward
Baon), but all James wants to do is get with cute Kelly (Elizabeth Mendoza) --
slow R&B tune plays whenever she appears. The FOBs have a protector -- the
Silent Avenger (mustachioed Carlos Baon, brother of the guy who plays the villain)
-- who knocks out adversaries with the titular snack, aka, deep-fried egg rolls.
Camera
(color, BetaSP), Ginelsa, Darriel Ginelsa; editor, A.J. Calomay; music, Windward
Way, Elson Trinidad; cartooning, Leroid David. Reviewed at Hawaii Film Festival
(The Filipino Experience), Nov. 1, 2003. Running time: 80 MIN.
©
Copyright 2003, Reed Business Information,
a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
© 2003 Variety, Inc.
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