The most powerful tool we have is our ability to communicate with the world around us. As a teacher and a writer, I base the majority of my identity on how I can discuss the trials and triumphs of the world around me through literacy, both within written text and oral storytelling. But what happens when that ability to communicate is taken from us? Carl Joseph E. Papa‘s genre hybrid film The Missing depicts the story of a young man, Eric (voiced by Carlo Aquino), an animator and perceived “weirdo” by society, navigating life without the use of his voice – taken from him through a severe trauma in his youth. 

On the surface, this film focuses on Eric’s battle with an alien who deemed him the next in line to take over a ravaged planet as a child. That alien returns during Eric’s adulthood to take him by whatever force necessary. Yet, the film reveals that this narrativegenuineely focuses on Eric’s struggle with finding himself after a violation from a person he once trusted. Through connection with his incredibly supportive mother, Rosalinda (Golden Globe nominee Dolly de Leon), and work colleague/love interest, Carlo (Gio Gahol), he finds the strength to fight for himself even though he continuously has to be ripped apart. 

The Missing demonstrates the true importance of having people in our corner as we navigate the world around us. This navigation is especially volatile when safety and stability have been disrupted within our identity. As individuals, we all must battle with some kind of alien that threatens to disrupt how we see ourselves within the world. And we can only confront these journeys when we realize the most important support we have is within ourselves.

The Missing comes to Fantasia on August 2nd.