The Debut

“One night can change a lifetime.”

2000·88 min·Released

Studio: Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), National Asian American Telecommunications Association

6.0TMDb

6.5IMDb

71%RT

Theatrical May 18, 2000

Nexus ms6856TMDb 38135IMDb tt0163745

🇺🇸

USA · English · USA

Drama

Overview

Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Basco) works in a comic book shop to earn money to pay his way into Cal Arts. His father, a postman, is determined that his son--who has won a pre-med scholarship to UCLA--will become a doctor. The eighteenth birthday party of Ben's sister, Rose, sets off a comedic and touching series of events and family struggles that will in turn determine young Ben's future. This fresh independent production from Gene Cajayon presents a lighthearted and warm coming-of-age tale filtered through the eyes of an American subculture rarely seen on film.