Veteran Austin filmmaker PJ Raval turns the lens on the Filipino American experience in Texas with his new documentary, "Who We Become," now streaming on Netflix. Featured on the big screen at the AFS Cinema on Jan. 11, Raval's doc captures the lives of three young Filipino Texan women against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice causes, and their familial dynamics, as reported by American-Statesman.
With a portfolio spanning over two decades featuring more than 30 director credits, Raval is no stranger to compelling narratives. "Who We Become" focuses on Lauren Yap, Monica Silverio, and Jenah Maravilla, portraying their engagement with issues such as Black Lives Matter and the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes. Despite the cinematic limitations imposed by the pandemic, Raval managed to curate content from a variety of digital forms, from texts to social media, coordinating the footage remotely. "I even created almost like assignment sheets on things for them to think about and look out for, and, ideas of what to film and how to physically capture footage," Raval told the American-Statesman.
However, the critique hints at some shallowness in the film's approach, particularly about the curated content shared on Instagram versus the more intimate video calls. Statements like "you've treated my Black body with care," during a personal conversation offer a stark, more impactful contrast to the more public-facing social media posts, the review suggested. It perhaps underscores the challenge filmmakers like Raval face in capturing the nuanced textures of advocacy and identity within the confinements, of a documentary format., as per New York Times
Yet, Raval's work is a testament to the multifaceted medium of documentary filmmaking, where the intersection of technology and personal narrative opens new doors to understanding. "Who We Become" not only shines a light on the lived experiences of its subjects during tumultuous times but also serves as a milestone in PJ Raval's career, further solidifying his role as a notable storyteller in the landscape of modern cinema.
