CINEMALAYA 21: ‘Child No. 82’ unmasks illusions of hero worship and machismo

CINEMALAYA 21: ‘Child No. 82’ unmasks illusions of hero worship and machismo

Tim Rone Villanueva’s full-length debut “Child No. 82 (Son of Boy Kana)” reimagines the fantasy genre as a mirror reflecting a society that puts men on a pedestal.  Through humor and absurdity, the film dissects the cost of idolizing heroes, both on screen and in real life. What begins as a dark comedy about a boy chasing validation evolves into a critique of patriarchy, forgiveness, and the illusion of heroism. The story follows Max (JM Ibarra)…