Push Admin

Director shares story behind Cinemalaya docu entry 'Home of the Brave'

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News Intern

<p>MANILA — The undocumented narratives and thriving realities of human trafficking survivors in Los Angeles, California is the focus of “Home of the Brave,” a mid-length documentary film by Baby Ruth Villarama.</p><p>A Cinemalaya documentary entry, “Home of the Brave” follows the story of now 84-year-old Amelia Barnachea, a human trafficking survivor in the city.</p><p>Barnachea, a woman representing thousands of caregivers in their twilight years, battles early signs of dementia while hoping to reconnect with family after spending years alone in the United States.</p><p>“There are so many stories like this that we need to reflect on in our future. Is this how growing old is? And is this how we want to honor and recognize the years and sacrifices of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)?” Villarama said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.</p><p>“We realized, how do we focus our lens? Where are we called to focus our lens? And then, when we met her [Amelia], we felt like maybe this is a good story to focus on,” she added.</p><p>Villarama took on the challenge of bringing to life a perspective of isolation in Barnachea’s story, envisioning the film with the purpose of providing refuge to others as well.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1721962794732Home of the Brave poster.png" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Beginning</strong></div><p>Following Barnachea&#x27;s experiences along with other workers, Villarama shared the story behind the documentary&#x27;s title &quot;Home of the Brave.&quot;</p><p>“They [workers] are staying at a shelter created by fellow Filipinos called the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC). That’s why we called it Home of the Brave. Filipinos have built a home for displaced workers, not just Filipinos but people of other nationalities as well,” Villarama said.</p><p>“Na-witness talaga namin ‘yung tahanan na ‘yon, and how Filipinos were able to put that up to support and provide shelter and love to those in need,” she added,</p><p>According to Villarama, it all began with a conversation when the founders of the shelter met the story consultant. <span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline !important;--darkreader-inline-color:#bfb9b1;--darkreader-inline-bgcolor:#181a1b">Chuck Gutierrez is the producer and editor of the film. </span> </p><p>PWC served as an inspiration for Villarama and her team, sparking opportunities to center the film on noteworthy individuals, resulting in a beautiful final product after years in the making.</p><div><strong>In a Magnified Lens</strong></div><p>The collective stories of displaced Filipino workers brought the documentary to life, revealing deep sentiments of being a mother and a co-worker.</p><p>Leaving the Philippines in the 1980s, Barnachea sought ways to support her children financially while enduring human trafficking and disregarding her own well-being.</p><p>“Despite her condition at the time, her concern for ensuring her pension reached her children in the Philippines really touched me,” Villarama said.</p><p>“The level of love of a mother. And similarly, with the Lord. She’ll do anything, even if she sleeps in the car, just to take care of her children. This is real life. It’s not just another story; these are real lives,” she added.</p><p>Embracing the odds to achieve the &quot;American Dream,&quot; Barnachea’s dedication to her co-workers outweighed the heavy challenges she faced, including participating in rallies and becoming the community’s spokesperson.</p><p>“She can be a strong representation of that sector. I think, as a family, if you see the film, you’ll see how love, which is so prominent in the Philippines, remains present despite the hardships,” she said.</p><div><strong>Behind the scenes</strong></div><p>Dedicated to portraying the real-life circumstances faced by OFWs, Villarama ensured her creative vision aligned with the core purpose of filmmaking — storytelling.</p><p>The documentary transcended by blending the team’s crafts with the unfamiliar environment, without compromising the film’s quality.</p><p>“We started the research in May 2022. There were many back-and-forths, documents, and permits. The biggest challenge was being from outside the area. We were offered a nice place to stay in L.A., and I thought about it for a while. I realized that if I wanted to understand and experience the lives of these displaced people, I needed to live at the shelter with them… I wanted to experience what it’s like to be there with Nanay Amelia and the other workers we met.”</p><p>Marking the best moments were those spent immersed in the Californian experience, meeting fellow Filipinos and others, and enjoying the magic hour, according to Villarama.</p><div><strong>Beyond the big screen</strong></div><p>Beyond the platform provided by Cinemalaya’s one-time screening, Villarama and the production team aimed for deeper impact with the film.</p><p>“We hope to find ways to elevate the social impact and goals of the film and rally behind its message, championing the people behind the story,” Villarama said.</p><p>“The platform provided is a significant step for us to invite people to see the film. I hope that through this initial screening, we can inspire more screenings,” she added.</p><p>Despite inaccessible legal services and long-term care challenges faced by workers, the documentary continues to advocate for community support and highlight what is often overlooked in the daily lives of OFWs.</p><p>“I think Amelia’s story is very relatable and authentic, which we don’t often see in some films,” Villarama concluded.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/18/documentary-tackles-human-trafficking-immigration-woes-in-la-1309" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&#x27;Home of the Brave&#x27; tackles human trafficking, immigration woes in Los Angeles</a></div><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WG5rFRJCmug?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

Director shares story behind Cinemalaya docu entry 'Home of the Brave'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Showbiz

Director shares story behind Cinemalaya docu entry 'Home of the Brave'

ABS-CBN News Intern,

Kris Anne Mendoza

Published Jul 27, 2024 08:36 AM PHT

Read More:

Home of the Brave

Baby Ruth Villarama

documentary film

Los Angeles

human trafficking

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.