The Debut (2000)

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.

Released May 18, 2000 88 min 16+

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Keywords: mdblist.has-trailer, imdb.based-on-short-film, imdb.postal-worker, imdb.filipino-american, imdb.party, imdb.birthday-party, imdb.high-school + 18 more, imdb.thug, imdb.racism, imdb.father-son-relationship, imdb.drawing, imdb.dance, imdb.culture-clash, imdb.coming-of-age, imdb.comic-book-shop, imdb.brother-sister-relationship, imdb.beer, imdb.basketball, imdb.artist, imdb.debut, imdb.independent-film, mdblist.fresh, imdb.young, imdb.man, aspectratio.1-85-1