In the movie 'Hosto,' Thea ( Angela Morena, right) offers to marry Patrick (Vince Rillon, left) so he can gain legal status in Japan and get more opportunities

"Hosto"  - a film about a young man who tries his luck in the Land of the Rising Sun for the sake of his family back home - streams on Vivamax starting June 16.

Overseas Filipino workers will surely find the movie relatable as it deals with the dynamics of separated families and the difficulty of adjusting to the language. It delivers an authentic experience as Japan's somber winter scenery, exciting nightlife scenes, and the daily struggles of the protagonist Patrick (played by Vince Rillon) are captured through the lens of young filmmaker Jao Daniel Elamparo.

Vince and his fellow actors in the movie -  Angela Morena, Denise Esteban, and Ali Asistio -  enjoyed playing the role of tourists and discovering facets of Japanese culture when their shoot for the day was finished.

Stars during the advance screening of 'Hosto' at Filmfest Cafe in Mandaluyong City (from left):  Ali Asistio, Denise Esteban, Vince Rillon, Angela Morena, director Brillante Mendoza and director Jao Elamparo

The movie's creator, award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, noted that the cast and crew were able to explore Japan in a good way. Aside from "Hosto," they also filmed "Japino" which will be shown at a later date.

"A lot of times we were only filming half a day. After that, they can take a rest or do whatever they like. It's sort of an incentive for them," Brillante said.

"This trip to Japan is for us to also explore and enjoy our work. I think the actors realized the value of the privilege given them because it showed in their great performance in this movie," he added.

Vince Rillon as Patrick, the lead in 'Hosto'

Denise narrated that it was everyone's first time to experience snow in Sapporo and they could not get over it. " Seeing snow falling felt surreal. We had a photo shoot outside and Ali was just in his underwear."

Vince said he savored the "onsen" or hot spring and tasted the local beer when he could because it's unique to that place.

Donki or Don Quijote was everyone's go-to shopping destination, especially for buying pasalubong. It's a discount store chain found all over Japan offering an extensive array of products.

Angela only has the highest praise for Japanese people. "The first time, I lost my bag with my passport, wallet, and other important things but I was able to recover it. The second time, I lost my wallet again and after a few hours, I found it on the same spot where I left it. The honesty of the Japanese is just amazing. They won't ever take something that is not theirs."

("Hosto" is a Vivamax original film produced in collaboration with Centerstage Productions. It also stars Jay Manalo and Alexa Ocampo)