Richard Quan with Manilyn Reynes, Gina Alajar and Elizabeth Oropesa.

Currently, “Ded na si Lolo” (international title: “Grandfather is Dead”) is being viewed at key cinemas in Los Angeles, USA. This drama-comedy film directed by Soxie Topacio offers a delicate balance of high strung madcap scenes as well as dramatic moments. The film aims to show Filipinos’ oddball manner of dealing with the death of a loved one.

“Grandfather is Dead” is the Philippines’ bet in the annual race for the foreign-language film category of the 82nd Annual Awards, where the coveted Oscars is given out.

Produced by APT Entertainment and the Directors Guild of the Philippines, “Grandfather is Dead” tells the story of Bobet, (BJ Forbes) a young boy who observes the many superstitious rituals followed by his family in the six days following the death of his grandfather.

Other stars in the film are Roderick Paulate, Elizabeth Oropesa, Gina Alajar, Manilyn Reynes, Dick Israel, Ranier Castillo and Richard Quan.

“Direk Soxie is the main reason why I accepted the project,” says Quan. In the film, he played Kiko, father of Bobet, and husband to Charing (Reynes).

“He has been a friend ever since. He was very supportive when I was just starting in my career, and accepting this is my way of thanking him for all his previous help. So, when he approached me to do this role, he was apprehensive at first, right there and then, I gave him my commitment and being part of this film is something that I don’t regret.”

“I’ve been in the movie industry for the past 15 years and let me say that the working atmosphere in ‘Ded na si Lolo’ was the happiest,” declares Quan.

How do you feel now that the film is Oscar bound? “Heaven!” he exclaims. “We did not expect that it will go this far, when somebody told me about it, I thought it was, you know, a joke, then I got a confirmation that it is for real and that it was deemed meritorious by members of the Film Academy. When we were shooting it, we just wanted to share to the people the wonderful growing up story of Direk Soxie and his quaint observations of his family’s practices during the wake of his grand dad. That was all he wants, so this recognition is really big for all of us.

“I hope the Oscar people give us a shot, I know the foreign film category is a very competitive field,” Quan says. “However, I am very optimistic that members of the Academy will find our small film appealing and full of heart.”

He concludes, “To all the Filipinos who will get to read this, let’s storm all the communication channels and let us generate more buzz for ‘Ded na si Lolo.’ I’m optimistic that we will have a red carpet moment, we deserve the love, we deserve the respect, and we are very proud of this film, this is a long-awaited victory that we Filipinos, richly deserve.”

“Ded na si Lolo/Grandfather is Dead” will be shown once more in theaters starting on Wednesday, Dec. 2.