Details
After his parents die in a flood, 15-year-old Andy is forced to live with his estranged grandfather, in the cold northern parts of the Philippines. Andy becomes withdrawn and isolated here and nobody can get through to him, until one day, the grandfather gets an idea. He shows the boy photos of Andy’s parents hiking up a beautiful mountain, and he takes his grandson to this place against his will. Tensions rise on their overnight hike, but through the journey, they start to come to terms with their grief.
Accolades
Trivia
Pepe Smith’s role as the grandfather is also based on life experiences of the seasoned musician. Elements of Smith’s real-life story were also borrowed and integrated into the film.
Critics
...'excellent two lead performances'
The Hollywood Reporter
...'a very beautiful film'
Asian Movie Pulse
Meet the Cast
.png&w=1200&q=75 "Pepe Smith")
.png&w=1200&q=75 "Ruru Madrid")
Director's Statement
Above the Clouds is about grieving with death. This film is a personal journey for me. The inspiration began in 2009, when Typhoon Ketsana hit my home city of Manila and killed hundreds of people. Meanwhile, the plot of the film came from the death of my grandmother in 2011. When a loved one dies, we always struggle to keep their memory alive, and this idea was central to make in making this film. Grief comes from the thought that we will never be with our loved ones again, and hope comes from the realization that they live on in our hearts for as long as we preserve their memories. The journey of the film is a journey between these two ideas, and ultimately, being able to rebuild our lives and find hope amidst despair.
