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And the Breadwinner Is...

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And the Breadwinner Is...
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJun Robles Lana
Screenplay by
  • Daisy G. Cayanan
  • Jumbo A. Albano
  • Jun Robles Lana
Story by
  • Daisy G. Cayanan
  • Jumbo A. Albano
Produced byMarjorie B. Lachica
Starring
CinematographyCarlo Mendoza
Edited byBenjamin Tolentino
Music byTerresa Barrozo
Production
companies
Distributed byStar Cinema
Release date
  • December 25, 2024 (2024-12-25)
Running time
123 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino
Box office₱460 million[1]

And the Breadwinner Is... is a 2024 Philippine family comedy-drama film directed by Jun Robles Lana from a screenplay he co-wrote with Daisy G. Cayanan and Jonathan "Jumbo" Albano, who wrote the story concept. The film features an ensemble cast featuring Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo. It follows the story of a breadwinner who returns to the country after working overseas.[2][3]

A co-production of Star Cinema and The IdeaFirst Company, it marks the very first collaboration between the two production companies and Vice Ganda's second film without the involvement of Viva Films since The Super Parental Guardians and his first film after a two-year hiatus in cinema.[3][4][5] It was released theatrically on December 25, 2024, as part of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Plot

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Bambi Salvador, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who has spent 15 years in Taiwan, returns to the Philippines to surprise her family and celebrate her birthday. However, she arrives to find her family home in disrepair and her mother Momsy[a] suffering from Alzheimer's disease, unable to recognize her and recall events. When her younger brother, Biboy, admits to mismanaging the remittances she sent and falling into debt, a disheartened Bambi leaves and stays with her close friend, Jovie. After having a vision of her late father, she resolves to keep her promise to support the family after his passing.

Bambi returns home only to discover that her family has mistakenly held a wake for her, and is trampled by frightened mourners who believe she is a ghost. Her siblings explain that she was declared dead after she was mistaken for the thief that stole her identification card, who was fatally struck by a bus and was unrecognizable after the accident. Learning of her life insurance policy from an agent, Tonton, they urge her to maintain the deception in order to claim the money. Although initially reluctant, Bambi changes her mind after learning that Biboy sold the house to violent gangsters, who assault him.

Disguised[b], Bambi attends her own wake but is interrupted by the return of her estranged sister, Baby. Baby supports the scheme and reveals that after her husband died, she too fell into debt while in Italy and had been unable to send money home. After staging her funeral, Bambi proposes reviving their father's bakery and enlists her siblings to help. She discovers her younger brother Boy is gay and supports him, while also teaching Biboy how to bake. Meanwhile, she slowly reconciles with Baby, who is the only one who knows their father's secret recipe. With the bakery reopened and thriving, the family begins to regain financial stability.

Buneng, the youngest of the siblings, develops a crush on Tonton, who suspects the Salvadors of insurance fraud. During a visit to their home, Buneng attempts to flirt with him but inadvertently reveals Bambi’s friendship with Jovie. Suspicious, Tonton visits Jovie, who unintentionally confirms the fraud by revealing that Bambi stayed with her on the day she was declared dead.

Tonton returns to the Salvadors' neighborhood and finds Bambi alive, prompting him to confront the family and announce that legal action will be taken. Buneng pleads with him to reconsider, and although Tonton admits he has feelings for her, he reveals he is obligated to report the fraud, as the insurance company is owned by his uncle.

Tensions escalate within the family. Bambi reprimands Biboy for his reckless spending, prompting him and his wife Mayet to accuse her of holding a grudge. Baby criticizes Bambi for being too forgiving, while Boy admits his fear of ending up alone like her. Frustrated, Bambi vents about being the family's sole provider for years without rest, only to be turned on once she can no longer support them. Their argument is interrupted when Paeng, Momsy's caregiver, informs them that Momsy has wandered off.

Bambi finds Momsy at a bus terminal, waiting for her daughter to return home from Taiwan. Momsy briefly regains lucidity and recognizes Bambi, who, overcome with emotion, reveals she is dying of glioblastoma. Overhearing this, her siblings reconcile with her and devote themselves to making her final days meaningful. They redecorate her bedroom to resemble her dream home and stay by her side as she tells Biboy’s children that a pink airplane will take her to heaven. At her funeral, the family spots a pink aircraft in the sky, symbolizing Bambi's new life as a flight attendant guiding souls to the afterlife.

In a mid-credits scene, Tonton ultimately decides against pursuing charges against the Salvadors and enters into a relationship with Buneng, before joining the family for a photo.

Cast

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Vice Ganda portrays Bambi Salvador
Lead cast
The breadwinner of the Salvador family who works as OFW in Taiwan.
Supporting cast
Bambi's oldest sister.
Bambi's younger brother.
Bambi's youngest sister.
Bambi's youngest closeted gay brother.
Bambi's sister-in-law and Biboy's wife.
A life insurance agent.
  • Via Antonio as Paeng
Bambi's cousin and caregiver of Momsy Salvador.
Bambi's mother and Popsy Salvador's wife.
  • Argus Aspiras as Puge Salvador
Younger son of Biboy and Mayet Salvador.
  • Kulot Caponpon as Danda Salvador
Older daughter of Biboy and Mayet Salvador.
Special participation
Bambi's late father and Momsy's husband.
  • Kiko Matos as Tope
Who Biboy owes money with.
A colleague of Bambi in Taiwan who died from choking.
  • Lassy Marquez as Jovie Miyaki
Izzy's husband and Bambi's friend and colleague in Taiwan.
  • MC Muah as Izzy Miyaki
Jovie's partner and Bambi's friend who works as a security guard.
The brother of Mikha who works as a nurse.
The daughter of (Aling) Leni who works as a doctor who owns a clinic health center.
A parlor salon colleague of Bambi in Taiwan

Production

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In 2023, Vice Ganda was supposed to do a project with The IdeaFirst Company originally scheduled for a 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival release but was postponed due to a scheduling conflict.[6] In early 2024, Vice Ganda teased regarding a collaboration project with award-winning director Jun Lana during co-actors Gladys Reyes and Cristopher Roxas wedding anniversary celebration.[7] On April 18, 2024, Vice Ganda posted a "new movie alert" teaser on his social media pages. On April 19, 2024, Director Lana joined Ganda on the noontime show It's Showtime to announce the title of the film. This is the first time Lana will direct Vice Ganda.[2] Lana is known for his award-winning directing and writing works for the films Barber's Tales (2013), Die Beautiful (2016), Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes (2018) and About Us But Not About Us (2022).[3][8]

Ganda noted how filming for And the Breadwinner Is... is the "most peaceful" in comparison to his previous projects. He also said that the film would have more drama compared to previous comedy films he appeared in.[9]

Jhong Hilario, notable for his co-hosting duties on It's Showtime, has been announced as part of the film and expressed gratitude towards Vice Ganda for extending the opportunity citing the television series Ang Probinsyano as his last significant acting venture.[2] The movie also served as his reunion with Lana, having worked previously together in two movies produced by GMA Pictures directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Sa Pusod ng Dagat and Jose Rizal, where Lana served as writer and Hilario as cast member for the two films.

On July 16, 2024, it was announced as one of the five initial official entries for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival – these are the films that were submitted as scripts.[10][11] The announcement of remaining cast members then followed, which includes Eugene Domingo and Gina Pareño.[12][13]

Filming started on June 27, 2024.[14] On August 13, 2024, Vice Ganda and other cast members flew to Taiwan to shoot some of the scenes.[15]

Music

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The song "Mapa" by Filipino boy band SB19 was used as the theme for the film. It was originally released in 2021 as part of the EP, Pagsibol.[16][17]

Release

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And the Breadwinner Is... was theatrically released in cinemas in the Philippines on December 25, 2024, as one of the entries of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.

The film also scheduled to premier at Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Los Angeles.[18] It also received a Japanese theatrical premiere via the 20th Osaka Asian Film Festival in Osaka on March 18, 2025.[19]

Reception

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Box office

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The film earned more than ₱460 million in ticket sales by February 20, 2025[20] and was the seventh film starring Vice Ganda to earn more than ₱400 million.[21] It was cited by the MMFF as one of the three top-grossing entries for its 2024 edition.[22]

Critical reception

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Josh Mercado, writing for ABS-CBN News, gave the film a positive review, praising the performance of lead star Vice Ganda for capturing the audiences' hearts for playing the family breadwinner which can relate to everyone, and writer-director Jun Lana for its direction.[23] Hannah Malorca, writing for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, also gave praise not only to the lead star and director but also to the performances of the ensemble cast; however, in some aspects of the screenplay, she found faults for its lack of execution in featuring the harsh realities of Vice's character.[24] Arman Cristobal, writing for SINEGANG.ph stated that the film allowed Vice Ganda to express her more intentional rapport while keeping her comedic spirit as well as she broke the stereotype of being ‘just a comedian' and could allow her to explore more serious roles in the future.[25]

Accolades

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Accolades received by And the Breadwinner Is...
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2024 50th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor Vice Ganda Nominated [26]
Best Supporting Actor Jhong Hilario Nominated
Kokoy de Santos Nominated
Best Float And the Breadwinner Is... Nominated
Best Gender-Sensitive Film Won
Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence Nominated
Special Jury Citation Vice Ganda Won
2025 3rd Gawad Dangal Filipino Awards Best Picture And The Breadwinner Is... 2nd [27]
5th Pinoy Rebyu Awards Best Lead Performance Vice Ganda Pending [28]
Best Ensemble Performance Vice Ganda
Eugene Domingo
Joel Torre
Malou de Guzman
Gladys Reyes
Jhong Hilario
Maris Racal
Anthony Jennings
Kokoy de Santos
Via Antonio
MC Calaquian
Lassy
Kulot Caponpon
Argus Aspiras
Petite
Pending
Platinum Stallion National Media Awards Best Film Artist Award Vice Ganda Won [29]
Film of the Year And The Breadwinner Is... Won

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ referred to in the film as Momshie
  2. ^ derived from Vice Ganda’s characters in previous films such as The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy, Beauty and the Bestie and Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad

Sources

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  1. ^ "And the breadwinner is...' posts P460M worldwide gross". ABS-CBN Corporate. February 20, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Deveza, Reyma. "Vice Ganda announces new film 'And the Breadwinner is...'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Baylon, Kriztynne Joi. "Vice Ganda, Direk Jun Lana announce movie collab titled And The Breadwinner Is..." PEP. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  4. ^ PEP Troika (March 23, 2024). "Vice Ganda-Jun Lana collab movie, isasali kaya sa MMFF 2024?". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "'And The Breadwinner Is' Vice Ganda's movie comeback". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. April 25, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Bonoan, Reggee (April 19, 2024). "Vice Ganda, Direk Jun Robles Lana sanib-pwersa sa bagong movie project". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Felipe, MJ. "Vice Ganda confirms new movie with Jun Lana". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Evangelista, Jessica Anne (April 20, 2024). "Vice Ganda to return to big screen with 'Breadwinner'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "MMFF 2024: Vic Sotto in first movie drama, Vice Ganda in first dramedy. Seriously?". Rappler. October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Deveza, Reyma. "Vice Ganda's 'And The Breadwinner Is' leads first 5 entries of MMFF 2024". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  11. ^ Mallorca, Hannah (July 16, 2024). "Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto, Dennis Trillo films lead 1st batch of MMFF 2024 entries". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  12. ^ "And The Breadwinner Is". Rappler. July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Javier, Humility (July 16, 2024). "Vice Ganda's 'And The Breadwinner Is...' joins Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 lineup". ABS-CBN Entertainment.
  14. ^ Humility, Javier. "Vice Ganda's 'And The Breadwinner Is...' joins Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 lineup". ABS-CBN. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  15. ^ Mallorca, Hannah (August 15, 2024). "Vice Ganda Taiwan-bound to film MMFF entry 'And The Breadwinner Is…'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  16. ^ Mallorca, Hannah (December 4, 2024). "SB19's 'Mapa,' 'Nyebe' featured in 'And the Breadwinner Is…,' 'Green Bones'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  17. ^ Lora, Ronnabelle (December 16, 2024). "Vice Ganda on using SB19's 'Mapa' as the OST for And The Breadwinner Is | PUSH TV". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Martinez, Gavin (December 31, 2024). "'Hello, Love, Again' returns to LA as part of MIFF 2025". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  19. ^ Felipe, MJ (February 17, 2025). "Vice Ganda's MMFF movie to premiere in 20th Osaka Asian Film Festival". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  20. ^ "'And the breadwinner is...' posts P460M worldwide gross". ABS-CBN. February 20, 2025. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  21. ^ "Vice Ganda's 'And The Breadwinner Is' grosses over P400 million". Rappler. January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  22. ^ de Castro, Isagani Jr. (January 15, 2025). "[ANALYSIS] MMFF won't break P1-billion box-office record: Is Philippine cinema dead?". Rappler. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  23. ^ Mercado, Josh (December 27, 2024). "MMFF review: Jun Lana brings out the best in Vice Ganda in 'And the Breadwinner Is'". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Mallorca, Hannah (December 29, 2024). "MMFF Review: 'And the Breadwinner Is…,' a heart-wrenching film on family dynamics". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  25. ^ Cristobal, Arman (January 9, 2025). "'And the Breadwinner Is…' REVIEW: A Vice Ganda You've Never Seen Before". SINEGANG.ph. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  26. ^ Reyes, Juno (December 28, 2024). "FULL LIST: Winners, 2024 MMFF Gabi ng Parangal". Rappler. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Kang, Kristine (January 23, 2025). "'Green Bones' wins big at the 3rd Gawad Dangal Filipino Awards". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  28. ^ "BINI documentary nominated in 5th Pinoy Rebyu Awards". ABS-CBN. February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  29. ^ "Kapamilya stars shine at 10th Platinum Stallion National Media Awards". ABS-CBN. February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
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