Manuel was one of the most compelling characters in Crosspoint, a struggling actor from the Philippines who found himself caught in a dangerous situation while trying to provide for his family. After losing a major acting role to a social media influencer, he decided to work illegally in Japan, performing at clubs to earn money. His decision came with great risks, especially since he had no legal work permit, making him vulnerable to deportation. As the film progressed, he found himself involved in a much bigger story, one that ultimately led him to a fugitive named Tatsuya, who had been on the run for years after committing horrific crimes. By the end of the film, Manuel played a crucial role in bringing Tatsuya to justice, but despite everything he had done, he couldn’t claim the reward money that was offered for Tatsuya’s capture.
The main reason Manuel couldn’t take the money was because of his illegal status in Japan. As someone who was working without the proper visa, he was always at risk of being caught by immigration authorities. If he stepped forward to claim the reward, he would have had to provide identification and proof of his involvement in Tatsuya’s capture. That would have immediately exposed his situation, likely leading to his deportation. Throughout the film, Manuel was desperate to avoid being sent back home empty-handed. He had left his pregnant wife behind, hoping to earn enough to give his family a better life, but if he got caught, all his efforts would have been for nothing. The risk of being discovered was too great, which meant he had to let go of the reward, even though he had earned it.
Another important factor was Shigeru’s role in the whole plan. Shigeru had been tracking Tatsuya for a long time, motivated by a personal mission that wasn’t fully revealed until later. He had his own reasons for wanting justice and was willing to take on the danger of confronting Tatsuya directly. When the time came to capture Tatsuya, Manuel helped Shigeru in the final confrontation, but things took a tragic turn when Shigeru was fatally wounded. Before he died, Shigeru made sure that his share of the reward money would go to Yasuhiro, the struggling businesswoman who had been fighting to save her father’s company. It was his last act of generosity, ensuring that his death would still bring some good to the people he cared about. Manuel, on the other hand, understood that he had no choice but to walk away from the money, even though he had risked his life in the process.
In the end, Manuel’s story wasn’t about money, but about redemption and purpose. At the beginning of the film, he was a man who felt like he had no control over his life. Losing his acting career made him feel worthless, and he believed that working illegally in Japan was his only option. But by the time he returned home, he was a different person. He had been part of something bigger than himself, helping to take down a dangerous criminal and giving closure to Risako’s grieving mother. Even though he couldn’t take the reward money, he gained something far more valuable—a sense of purpose and a renewed appreciation for his family. When he reunited with his wife, he promised never to leave her again, showing that his journey had changed him in ways that money never could.
The film’s ending was bittersweet, but it reinforced one of its main themes—sometimes, justice and redemption come in unexpected ways. Manuel didn’t get the financial reward he had hoped for, but he found something much deeper. His actions ensured that Tatsuya was finally caught, that Yasuhiro could pursue her dreams, and that Shigeru’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Even without the money, Manuel’s story ended with hope, proving that some things in life are more important than material success.