And the Breadwinner Is…

With great responsibility, comes greater respect

I was all prepared to go ballistic when I finished the movie because I saw the plot twist coming ten minutes in - but I sat through it, because I could feel that I was in for something that was truly worth the watch.

It did not disappoint.

The story is pretty straightforward - Bambi, our lead, is an OFW in Taiwan who returns home for her birthday and to her family who have been documenting the home she's asked them build in her stead with the money she sends home. Only, no new house and the family's spent all the house money on other projects.
A bunch of mishaps take place and somehow everyone believes Bambi is dead, but when they discover she's not, the entire family decides to scam the insurance company out of the life policy under Bambi's name.

The narrative is kind of here and there, they went hard on the comedy in the first half, heavy with the emotions on the second, a thing I've noticed in quite a few Filipino titles. The comedy was decently executed, I found myself chuckling a bit at times but it was the emotional second half that really got to me.

We get bits and pieces here and there that clues us in on the complicated family situation the characters have going on - five siblings who all have different visions and needs for their lives, and a ton of baggage amongst them are suddenly under one roof, but we never really get the full story. Until, of course, this huge blown up argument between all the family members that lasted around 20 minutes.
Every grievance they have against each other is all out in the open and it's kind of information overload, but it doesn't really matter, because they deliver on what they banked on while writing the script - emotions.

The story relied heavily on the audience sympathizing with the lead and maybe even the supporting characters, and they nailed it. Especially since all the actors delivered in aces. The acting was actually so incredible that I was moved to tears.

A couple of things that could have been worked on? The choppy narrative and I did think the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, it would've enriched an already great movie.

This was a genuinely good movie, perhaps not something quite so innovative, but certainly worth it if you're looking for something emotional and melancholic.

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Heart in the Right Place, Structure All Over

In And the Breadwinner Is..., Jun Robles Lana delivers a poignant, if occasionally chaotic, Filipino family dramedy anchored by the enduring star power of Vice Ganda. Set against the emotional terrain of sacrifice, betrayal, and reconciliation, the film follows long-time overseas worker Bambi Salvador (Vice Ganda), who returns to the Philippines after 15 years in Taiwan—only to find the home and family she left behind in shambles.

Her mother suffers from Alzheimer’s, the house is crumbling, and her younger brother Biboy (Jhong Hilario) has gambled away her remittances. Heartbroken, Bambi briefly disappears, only to return after a vision of her deceased father. Tragedy then takes a surreal turn when she is mistakenly declared dead, allowing the family to claim her life insurance. When Bambi finally re-emerges, she reveals she is terminally ill with glioblastoma, leading the fractured family into a final chapter of forgiveness and unity.

It’s a film filled with high-stakes emotion and broad tonal swings, culminating in a surprisingly whimsical coda that sees Bambi guiding souls as a flight attendant in the afterlife. The film doesn’t shy away from sentimentality, and when it works, it works well—thanks largely to a committed ensemble cast. Eugene Domingo, Gladys Reyes, and Kokoy de Santos, in particular, elevate the film with layered, compelling performances that transcend the occasionally uneven script.

That said, And the Breadwinner Is... suffers from structural inconsistencies. Scenes sometimes feel loosely stitched together, and the narrative often sidesteps deeper engagement with its themes. Conflicts resolve too conveniently, and some character arcs are rushed or underdeveloped. Vice Ganda’s previous filmography is referenced more than necessary, and filler characters detract from the film’s emotional weight.

Crucially, Bambi's illness is not rendered with the realism it warrants. A more detailed portrayal of her health decline—such as physical changes or choices around treatment—could have lent the story added depth. And while the film flirts with romantic possibilities for Bambi, particularly hinted during a holiday special, these threads are ultimately left unexplored. A reunion with her father’s spirit at the end, rather than an abstract afterlife vignette, might have delivered a more profound emotional payoff.

Despite its flaws, the film finds moments of genuine power—particularly in a standout long-take sequence where the family confronts their buried traumas. It’s in these raw, unfiltered exchanges that And the Breadwinner Is... taps into its full emotional potential.

This may not be Vice Ganda’s most polished film, but it signals a subtle evolution in her screen persona—less slapstick, more soul. While not structurally sound, And the Breadwinner Is... remains an affecting tribute to familial love, personal sacrifice, and the messy, often bittersweet process of coming home.

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