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Dante Basco

An award-winning English language film for the whole family, "the Debut" revolves around Ben Mercado (Dante Basco), a talented high school senior who has rejected his Filipino heritage. The long-simme...( read more  read more... )ring feud between Ben and his immigrant father Roland (Tirso Cruz III) threatens to boil over and ruin the 18th birthday party of Ben's sister Rose (Bernadette Balagtas). But to Ben's surprise, his sister's celebration challenges his sense of misplaced identity, and the way he regards his father and grandfather (Filipino film legend Eddie Garcia). In one night, Ben faces the true nature of his relationships with his family, his friends, and himself.

Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Mercado) 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.

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78% liked it

1,134 ratings

R, 88 min.

Directed by: Gene Cajayon

Release Date: March 16, 2001

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DVD Release Date: September 9, 2003

Stats: 109 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (109)

  • Sakunelaj
    December 26, 2008
    Sakunelaj
    Awesome film....and Dante is so freaking sexy.....
  • Rosepetal75
    February 27, 2008
    Rosepetal75
    Ben Mercado (Dante Basco) is a high school senior enrolls in a Prestigious Arts Institute to realize his dreams of becoming an artist. He is falling in love with his sister named Rose's (Bernadette Balagtas) best friend named Annabelle ((Joy Bisco)..
  • ronpoohm
    November 16, 2007
    ronpoohm
    I love american filippino movies!!
  • lxeraeisrad
    August 13, 2007
    lxeraeisrad
    Ok, so the giant fork and spoon was funny.
  • kerryslue
    July 25, 2007
    kerryslue
    i want to see this film
  • filoangel86
    July 18, 2007
    filoangel86
    Filo Cuture difference mang!!
  • kai2c
    July 7, 2007
    kai2c
    My first Dante Basco movie. Cousin in NYC brought a DVD of this in the PH and I loved it. They talk funny Filipino but Dante was enough to keep me watching. :D
  • homerndonuts
    June 7, 2007
    homerndonuts
    Filipinos at their best.
  • filigirl19
    May 24, 2007
    filigirl19
    OMG I LOVE THIS MOVIE! <3

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The Debut Trivia

  • Which actress made her acting debut in the remake of the classic movie "The Parent Trap"?  Answer »
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