It is that time of the year again. We can hear Christmas tunes playing in every mall, traffic abounds, godparents rediscover just how many godchildren they have, and yes, the Metro Manila Film Festival is in full swing.

I normally do not go out of my way to watch the MMFF offerings. I have nothing against the film festival, mind you, except that one, there’s always a horror film, which I always avoid anyway, and two, most of the films on offer often strike me as formulaic. They are often flat-out escapist entertainment or a sequel of a previous entry.

And so when I got invited to a special early screening of Firefly, I was skeptical. I’ve tried other MMFF entries to varying degrees of satisfaction. With Firefly, however, I was pleasantly surprised.

The brainchild of director Zig Dulay and writer Angelie Atienza, Firefly tells the story of Tonton (played deftly by young Euwenn Mikaell) as he navigates the ups and downs of growing up. The story is told creatively through his imagination as he quests to fulfill his promise to his mother (Alessandra De Rossi).

Tonton aims to reach the Isle of the Fireflies, a magical place his mother had always told him about in stories. Along the way, he gathers a hodgepodge of companions, forming their own little fellowship to aid him on his quest. Helping him along his way are Epy Quizon, Ysabela Ortega, and Tanfelix, each of them worthy companions who are also dealing with their scars from the past and trauma.

Tonton’s imagination is brought to life in animated segments accentuating his growth journey. The animation is subtle and is never a scene-stealer. It calls to mind similar works such as the movie A Monster Calls and the K-drama It's Okay Not to Be Okay.

The film has a lot of heart, with a strong emphasis on family. Particularly the love between a mother and a child. It is a tribute to mothers and their sacrifices for their children and the long-term effect a mother’s love for their child can have.

Aside from some portions that may be frightening for children, Firefly is a family movie. It has enough depth and complexity to keep a thinking person engrossed and enough fantasy elements and funny moments to entertain kids.