Honor Thy Father gains positive reviews from Toronto Film Festival

(Screengrab from Honor Thy Father’s trailer)

MANILA – Honor Thy Father, a Filipino crime thriller film directed by Erik Matti and starred by award-winning actor John Lloyd Cruz, had its international premiere at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The Filipino film received positive reviews from foreign critics.

Steve Gravestock of the TIFF praised the film which he regarded as a ‘suspenseful story of betrayal and retribution, a drama about familial reconciliation, and a commentary on the tenuous nature of newfound wealth.

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Honor Thy Father was written by Michiko Yamamoto and starred Cruz, Meryll Soriano and Tirso Cruz III.

Portraying a married couple, Cruz and Soriano gained millions through swindling. Deceiving churchgoers into investing in a get-quick scheme, the couple found their daughter Angel kidnapped with the return of the investments as the ransom asked.

Gravestock lauded Matti’s directing skills and Cruz’ performance.

“Holding everything together are Matti’s fluid, skilled direction and the tightly wound performance by Cruz, whose Edgar – disgusted by the greed and hypocrisy he encounters – seems always on the verge of exploding,” he said.

Another movie critic, Harry Windsor of The Hollywood Reporter, also gave a positive feedback to the film which showed the ‘inequality and vigilante justice in the modern Philippines.’