Produced by Aunor's production company Nv Productions and released as one of the official entries to the 6th Metro Manila Film Festival on December 25, 1980, the film was also shown at the Directors' Fortnight of the 1981 Cannes International Film Festival. This year, the iconic film which is considered one of the country's best of all time, is screening in Cannes, in a restored version.
Bona is screening in Cannes Film Festival
Bona is a middle-class schoolgirl who is besotted with a bit actor, Gardo, desperately trying to get his attention. Eventually she manages to do so, despite the fact that the man always seems to be in the company of another woman. The two, however, do not become a couple exactly, since she ends up in his house in the slums, essentially acting as his maid, cooking, ironing and cleaning his clothes and helping him with his baths. When her father...
Bona is screening in Cannes Film Festival
Bona is a middle-class schoolgirl who is besotted with a bit actor, Gardo, desperately trying to get his attention. Eventually she manages to do so, despite the fact that the man always seems to be in the company of another woman. The two, however, do not become a couple exactly, since she ends up in his house in the slums, essentially acting as his maid, cooking, ironing and cleaning his clothes and helping him with his baths. When her father...
- 5/21/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Winner for Best Director – Short Film from Cinemalaya, “As He Sleeps” is a very intriguing, bordering on blasphemous one could say, short that deals with the concept of the ‘sanctity of marriage” in a rather unusual way.
In a visual style that reminds intently of Lino Brocka, the movie begins with a woman smoking in an apartment, while a voice condemning adultery is heard. The woman is named Christina, is in her 30s, and it turns out she has to take care of her paralyzed husband, Hector. As she cleans him with a sponge in his bed, a photo of them being happy in the past shows how their relationship was before he became bed-ridden. A man who has come to buy their TV arrives a bit later, taking the appliance with him. She has just also got rid of their goldfish, throwing them in the sink, perhaps in a...
In a visual style that reminds intently of Lino Brocka, the movie begins with a woman smoking in an apartment, while a voice condemning adultery is heard. The woman is named Christina, is in her 30s, and it turns out she has to take care of her paralyzed husband, Hector. As she cleans him with a sponge in his bed, a photo of them being happy in the past shows how their relationship was before he became bed-ridden. A man who has come to buy their TV arrives a bit later, taking the appliance with him. She has just also got rid of their goldfish, throwing them in the sink, perhaps in a...
- 4/4/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Filipino crime thriller has a unique approach that includes documentary-like realism in the narrative, in the style dictated by the likes of Lino Brocka, Mike De Leon, Brillante Mendoza and Erik Matti. Sonny Calvento, in his feature debut back in 2017, implemented a similar approach in “The Decaying” a film that won an award for its production design in the 2017 Cinemalaya.
The film begins with a man in a remote area witnessing a Westerner and a teenager throwing and burning parts of a bed in the same field, obviously trying not to be seen by anyone. A bit later on, the man, whose name is revealed to be Jason, buys a sack of cement and returns to his house, where the first thing he does is to fire the housemaid, Ingrid, who happens to be his wife's cousin. The woman is shocked but soon becomes suspicious as her cousin is nowhere to be found,...
The film begins with a man in a remote area witnessing a Westerner and a teenager throwing and burning parts of a bed in the same field, obviously trying not to be seen by anyone. A bit later on, the man, whose name is revealed to be Jason, buys a sack of cement and returns to his house, where the first thing he does is to fire the housemaid, Ingrid, who happens to be his wife's cousin. The woman is shocked but soon becomes suspicious as her cousin is nowhere to be found,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
by Yann Benarrous
Is it really worthwhile for me to comment further? Just imagine throwing into a defective Thermomix in no particular order Bruce Lee's early classics, (not-the-best) Blaxploitation undercover stories, few OSS177 and other cheap cold war spy fictions with just a drop of Nunsploitation to spice it up. Tempting, isn't it? No surprise to see the B-movies undisputed ruler Quentin Tarantino resurrecting this underground piece for an interview to the Straight Times while promoting “Kill Bill”.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Obviously, the name Cleopatra Wong is directly inspired form Jack Starrett's “Cleopatra Jones” (1973), just like the introductive “They call her… “ is a common pattern of the Exploitation scene, the most famous probably being the Spaghetti Western “They Call Me Trinity” (1970). Moreover seeing the coming-from-nowhere-soon-returning-to-nowhere leading actress Doris Young getting renamed Marrie Lee is certainly making her a sibling of King Bruce,...
Is it really worthwhile for me to comment further? Just imagine throwing into a defective Thermomix in no particular order Bruce Lee's early classics, (not-the-best) Blaxploitation undercover stories, few OSS177 and other cheap cold war spy fictions with just a drop of Nunsploitation to spice it up. Tempting, isn't it? No surprise to see the B-movies undisputed ruler Quentin Tarantino resurrecting this underground piece for an interview to the Straight Times while promoting “Kill Bill”.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Obviously, the name Cleopatra Wong is directly inspired form Jack Starrett's “Cleopatra Jones” (1973), just like the introductive “They call her… “ is a common pattern of the Exploitation scene, the most famous probably being the Spaghetti Western “They Call Me Trinity” (1970). Moreover seeing the coming-from-nowhere-soon-returning-to-nowhere leading actress Doris Young getting renamed Marrie Lee is certainly making her a sibling of King Bruce,...
- 11/11/2023
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
Sometimes summer nights call out for a deep dive into nostalgic cinematographic homages. “Manila”, a 2009 movie directed by Adolf Alix Jr. and Raya Martin, might be just the perfect choice, accompanying us with an ode to Filipino cinema. The film was screened as part of unique, out-of-competition screenings at the 31st Moscow International Film Festival and the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.
By independent directors Raya Martin and Adolfo Alix Jr., the movie pays their homage to masterpieces of Filipino neorealism “City After Dark“, also known as “Manila by Night” (1980) by Ishmael Bernal and “Jaguar” (1979) by Lino Brocka. The project perfectly succeeds in its goal to open the door for a new audience to learn about the wonderful works of the old masters.
The social environment that Manila provided for those topics hasn't changed all that much in the last three decades, after all. A disconnected, dialogue-free montage separates the two short films,...
By independent directors Raya Martin and Adolfo Alix Jr., the movie pays their homage to masterpieces of Filipino neorealism “City After Dark“, also known as “Manila by Night” (1980) by Ishmael Bernal and “Jaguar” (1979) by Lino Brocka. The project perfectly succeeds in its goal to open the door for a new audience to learn about the wonderful works of the old masters.
The social environment that Manila provided for those topics hasn't changed all that much in the last three decades, after all. A disconnected, dialogue-free montage separates the two short films,...
- 7/15/2023
- by Federica Giampaolo
- AsianMoviePulse
Our tribute to Filipino cinema proved a great idea, since we managed to discover a truly underrated and very rarely mentioned part of international cinema, with the 70s and 80 in the Philippines in particular offering a series of movies that could easily be described as masterpieces. In contrary to European or even American films, the rather intriguing aspect of these films is that they manage to combine intense social commentary with mainstream and occasionally even horror and exploitation elements, thus results in a series of titles that could have universal appear, also because they are also quite artful.
Without further ado, here are 13 of the titles that truly stood out.
1. Manila in the Claws of Light (1975) by Lino Brocka
The main element of Lino Brocka’s narrative is, evidently, realism, with him implementing a documentary-like approach to the social circumstances of Manila in the 70’s. In this effort, he benefits...
Without further ado, here are 13 of the titles that truly stood out.
1. Manila in the Claws of Light (1975) by Lino Brocka
The main element of Lino Brocka’s narrative is, evidently, realism, with him implementing a documentary-like approach to the social circumstances of Manila in the 70’s. In this effort, he benefits...
- 5/5/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
In selection, at the 29th Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie de Vesoul, 85 films including 38 new ones, from 31 countries.
The president of the Jury will be Mr Lee Yong-kwan (Korea), president of the prestigious Busan festival, the Cannes of Asia.
A tribute will be paid to the Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu, in his presence. The entirety of his work will be presented, from his first film Away From Home, in competition at Vesoul 2002, to his latest opus Hasan’s Promises, Cannes 2021, including Honey, Golden Bear Berlin 2010.
20 films in competition, in French, European, international or world premiere, will be judged by 7 juries. The competitive sections are composed of films from rare cinematographies, and films from major cinematographies.
Replay of award-winning films at the Guimet Museum of Asian Arts in Paris on April 21, 22 and 23, 2023 and at the Inalco (Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales).
To celebrate the 75th anniversary...
The president of the Jury will be Mr Lee Yong-kwan (Korea), president of the prestigious Busan festival, the Cannes of Asia.
A tribute will be paid to the Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu, in his presence. The entirety of his work will be presented, from his first film Away From Home, in competition at Vesoul 2002, to his latest opus Hasan’s Promises, Cannes 2021, including Honey, Golden Bear Berlin 2010.
20 films in competition, in French, European, international or world premiere, will be judged by 7 juries. The competitive sections are composed of films from rare cinematographies, and films from major cinematographies.
Replay of award-winning films at the Guimet Museum of Asian Arts in Paris on April 21, 22 and 23, 2023 and at the Inalco (Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales).
To celebrate the 75th anniversary...
- 2/13/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Continuing an effort to archive films in a way that constitutes art, Khavn’s second feature screening in Rotterdam this year, focuses on the films of Lino Brocka, through an experimental approach that seems to follow, this time, a kind of form.
National Anarchist: Lino Brocka is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
Lino Brocka is probably the most famous filmmaker of the Philippines internationally, with the inclusion of “Manila in the Claws of Light ” in Martin Scorcese’s World Cinema Project helping the most in that regard. Brocka directed over sixty fiction features between 1970 and 1991, the year he died in a car accident. Khavn’s “tribute” actually begins with his death, with the intertitles hinting that, considering his continuous criticism of the various governments of the country, this might as well not be an accident. Khavn, who has frequently dealt in various ways with Brocka in his films, took...
National Anarchist: Lino Brocka is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
Lino Brocka is probably the most famous filmmaker of the Philippines internationally, with the inclusion of “Manila in the Claws of Light ” in Martin Scorcese’s World Cinema Project helping the most in that regard. Brocka directed over sixty fiction features between 1970 and 1991, the year he died in a car accident. Khavn’s “tribute” actually begins with his death, with the intertitles hinting that, considering his continuous criticism of the various governments of the country, this might as well not be an accident. Khavn, who has frequently dealt in various ways with Brocka in his films, took...
- 2/5/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Berlin Film Festival has revealed a raft of titles across strands and also 33 film projects vying for coin at the coproduction market.
Selections for the topical Perspektive Deutsches Kino strand from emerging German talent include “Seven Winters in Tehran” by Steffi Niederzoll, “Elaha” by Milena Aboyan, “Ararat” by Engin Kundag, “The Kidnapping of the Bride” by Sophia Mocorrea, Fabian Stumm’s “Bones and Names,” “Long Long Kiss” by Lukas Röder, Tanja Egen’s “On Mothers and Daughters,” “Ash Wednesday,” by João Pedro Prado and Bárbara Santos, “Nuclear Nomads” by Kilian Armando Friedrich and Tizian Stromp Zargari and “Lonely Oaks” by Fabiana Fragale, Kilian Kuhlendahl and Jens Mühlhoff.
All the selected films in the strand will compete for the Heiner Carow Prize and the Compass-Perspektive-Award, both of which are endowed with €5,000.
A 4K restoration of David Cronenberg’s “Naked Lunch” will open the Berlinale Classics section, which also includes Oliver Schmitz’ “Mapantsula,...
Selections for the topical Perspektive Deutsches Kino strand from emerging German talent include “Seven Winters in Tehran” by Steffi Niederzoll, “Elaha” by Milena Aboyan, “Ararat” by Engin Kundag, “The Kidnapping of the Bride” by Sophia Mocorrea, Fabian Stumm’s “Bones and Names,” “Long Long Kiss” by Lukas Röder, Tanja Egen’s “On Mothers and Daughters,” “Ash Wednesday,” by João Pedro Prado and Bárbara Santos, “Nuclear Nomads” by Kilian Armando Friedrich and Tizian Stromp Zargari and “Lonely Oaks” by Fabiana Fragale, Kilian Kuhlendahl and Jens Mühlhoff.
All the selected films in the strand will compete for the Heiner Carow Prize and the Compass-Perspektive-Award, both of which are endowed with €5,000.
A 4K restoration of David Cronenberg’s “Naked Lunch” will open the Berlinale Classics section, which also includes Oliver Schmitz’ “Mapantsula,...
- 1/9/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Corruption and the way it usually connects the police with the politicians and the “capital” has always been a source of inspiration for filmmakers, with a number of titles presenting its blights in their respective countries, with particularly Korean cinema leaning heavily on the subject.. The result is frequently masterful, with a number of great films of all time having the particular concept as their main theme. 24 of those are amassed in this list, in alphabetical order, as usually, with a focus on diversity.
1. A Dark, Dark Man
The most evident element here is the direct accusation Yerzhanov points towards the Kazakh system, particularly in rural areas, with the ways the police conduct their business in cooperation with politicians essentially deeming them even worse criminals than the ones they are supposed to deal with. At the same time, this comment allows for the two protagonists to stand out, through a rather thorough character analysis,...
1. A Dark, Dark Man
The most evident element here is the direct accusation Yerzhanov points towards the Kazakh system, particularly in rural areas, with the ways the police conduct their business in cooperation with politicians essentially deeming them even worse criminals than the ones they are supposed to deal with. At the same time, this comment allows for the two protagonists to stand out, through a rather thorough character analysis,...
- 11/2/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Rumored to have been salvaged from a commercial movie studio dumpster, “Riddle: Shout of Man” (original title: Original title: Bugtong: Ang sigaw ng lalake) is a commentary on Filipino on-screen macho culture, in the form of an optically printed film collage of deteriorating found footage. It was a product of the last Christoph Janetzko film workshop, with a focus on experiments with optical printers, held in 1990, and one of the rare surviving works in the brief filmmaking career of the now deceased Ramon ‘Rj’ Leyran.
“Riddle: Shout of Man” is streaming on Metrograph, as part of the Kalampag Tracking Agency Shorts Program
Essentially a collage of action/exploitation film of the 70s and 80s, some of them by Lino Brocka if I am not mistaken, the movie comments exactly on how men are presented in this kind of films, in contrast to women. Almost all of them foster a mustache...
“Riddle: Shout of Man” is streaming on Metrograph, as part of the Kalampag Tracking Agency Shorts Program
Essentially a collage of action/exploitation film of the 70s and 80s, some of them by Lino Brocka if I am not mistaken, the movie comments exactly on how men are presented in this kind of films, in contrast to women. Almost all of them foster a mustache...
- 8/25/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Film Development Council of the Philippines launched the Fdcp Channel streaming platform at the Cannes Film Market on Tuesday.
Available at launch will be 140 films, including 100 Filipino titles from the country’s masters including Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Kidlat Tahimik, Chito Rono, Brillante Mendoza and Dodo Dayao.
In addition, there will be 41,000 film heritage elements available on the platform including news reels and documentaries.
The platform has several tiers. The basic access service is free and has short films, panel discussions and special events. An SVOD tier that costs PHP99 (1.90) per month provides access to local and international films. Tvod access makes curated local and international films available. In addition the platform also offers event access to free or paid-for live-streamed special events.
The channel began life in the middle of the pandemic in Sept. 2020 as an online platform for the Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the Philippines’ national film festival,...
Available at launch will be 140 films, including 100 Filipino titles from the country’s masters including Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Kidlat Tahimik, Chito Rono, Brillante Mendoza and Dodo Dayao.
In addition, there will be 41,000 film heritage elements available on the platform including news reels and documentaries.
The platform has several tiers. The basic access service is free and has short films, panel discussions and special events. An SVOD tier that costs PHP99 (1.90) per month provides access to local and international films. Tvod access makes curated local and international films available. In addition the platform also offers event access to free or paid-for live-streamed special events.
The channel began life in the middle of the pandemic in Sept. 2020 as an online platform for the Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the Philippines’ national film festival,...
- 5/24/2022
- by Patrick Frater and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Considering that the majority of South and South East Asian countries are quite conservative when it comes to the presentation of eroticism on cinema (even more so regarding nudity), the number of films that have sensualism as their key element is not exactly huge, at least when compared to European cinema for example. However, Japan and S. Korea do produce a number of this type of movies, even within their censhorship laws, while a number of other countries also have their entries in the category. Also of note is a recent trend that has begun within the Japanese movie industry, of presenting erotic films that try to cater to the aesthetics of both men and women, while abiding by the MeToo rules, with the result being interesting as much as ambitious.
In this list, we tried to focus on titles where the erotic is one of the key elements, while...
In this list, we tried to focus on titles where the erotic is one of the key elements, while...
- 5/18/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Quite a notorious production, the recently restored in 4K by the Philippine Film archive “Manila By Night” presents the “nightlife” of Manila in all its sex, drugs, and violence-driven glory, to the point that the censors, after instigation from the former First Lady Imelad Marcos, cut the movie severely and even changed its title to “City After Dark” in order to avoid any association with the nation’s capital. In Udine, the film is presented in its uncut 150 minutes version.
“Manila by Night” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
The story is rather complicated as it revolves around a plethora of characters: Alex is a schoolboy that also happens to be a folk singer, but at the same time he is a homosexual and drug addict, with his constant wasting of money frequently aggravating his mother, Virgie, who tries her best to “save” her son but frequently fails.
“Manila by Night” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
The story is rather complicated as it revolves around a plethora of characters: Alex is a schoolboy that also happens to be a folk singer, but at the same time he is a homosexual and drug addict, with his constant wasting of money frequently aggravating his mother, Virgie, who tries her best to “save” her son but frequently fails.
- 5/1/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Considered by many as one of the greatest films of Filipino cinema, and one of the few from the country that is consistently placed among the world’s top films of all time, “Manila in the Claws of Light” is a definite masterpiece, a movie that presents the reality of the city during the 70’s in the most realistic fashion, without, though, neglecting its aesthetics and the entertainment it offers, even for a frame.
“Manila in the Claws of Light” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
The story is based on the novel “In the Claws of Brightness” by Edgardo M. Reyes, and focuses on Julio Madiaga, a country bumpkin who arrives in Manila from Marinduque island. His purpose is both to get a better life but also to track down the love of his life, Ligaya, who was brought to Manila by a mysterious lady named Mrs Cruz,...
“Manila in the Claws of Light” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
The story is based on the novel “In the Claws of Brightness” by Edgardo M. Reyes, and focuses on Julio Madiaga, a country bumpkin who arrives in Manila from Marinduque island. His purpose is both to get a better life but also to track down the love of his life, Ligaya, who was brought to Manila by a mysterious lady named Mrs Cruz,...
- 4/22/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art has set Audrey Diwan’s Happening and The African Desperate by Martine Syms will bookend the 51st edition of their collaboration, New Directors/New Films running April 20–May 1 in NYC.
The festival will introduce 26 features and 11 shorts and total of 39 directors — 21 of which are women.
“Portraits of individuals and communities navigating uncertain and turbulent circumstances in pursuit of freedom, self-determination, and survival set a remarkably contemplative tone to the lineup,” said La Frances Hui, curator of MoMa’s film department and event co-char.
Happening (L’Événement), winner of the 2021 Venice International Film Festival’s Golden Lion, is the portrait of a young woman attempting to secure an illegal abortion in 1960s provincial France. It was acquired by IFC Films and will be released May 6.
The African Desperate, a debut feature from Syms, rushes through 24 hours in the life of protagonist Palace...
The festival will introduce 26 features and 11 shorts and total of 39 directors — 21 of which are women.
“Portraits of individuals and communities navigating uncertain and turbulent circumstances in pursuit of freedom, self-determination, and survival set a remarkably contemplative tone to the lineup,” said La Frances Hui, curator of MoMa’s film department and event co-char.
Happening (L’Événement), winner of the 2021 Venice International Film Festival’s Golden Lion, is the portrait of a young woman attempting to secure an illegal abortion in 1960s provincial France. It was acquired by IFC Films and will be released May 6.
The African Desperate, a debut feature from Syms, rushes through 24 hours in the life of protagonist Palace...
- 3/29/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Ricky Lee. Photo by Grace Orbon-Emmelot.“It’s important to be a good writer, but it’s more important to be a good person”—Ricky LeeThere is no corner in Philippine cinema, television, and literature that remains untouched and unshaped by Ricky Lee. You may think this is an exaggeration, but it is true. With nearly five decades in the film industry, Lee has created over 180 scripts, several best-selling Filipino books, and the screenwriting manual called “Trip to Quiapo” that is used in introductory film courses all over the country. With more than 70 awards for his writing, Lee has worked with luminaries in Filipino cinema such as Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Gil Portes, Laurice Guillen, and Mike De Leon, among others, and their collaborations have been screened in some of the most prestigious film festivals around the world—Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and Cairo, just to name a few.
- 1/27/2022
- MUBI
Label aims to support up-and-coming filmmakers as well as reintroduce underseen classics from acclaimed directors to Na audiences.
Hong Kong-based sales agent Pearl Chan and programmer Ariel Esteban Cayer have launched a Blu-ray label, Kani Releasing, to distribute Asian films, both contemporary and restored, in North America
The label aims to support up-and-coming filmmakers as well as reintroduce underseen repertory classics from acclaimed directors to North American audiences. Its first release is Japanese filmmaker Tadashi Nagayama’s second film, Being Natural (2018), which starts preorders today.
Upcoming releases include a restored version of Cain & Abel (1982), from the Philippines’ Lino Brocka; and...
Hong Kong-based sales agent Pearl Chan and programmer Ariel Esteban Cayer have launched a Blu-ray label, Kani Releasing, to distribute Asian films, both contemporary and restored, in North America
The label aims to support up-and-coming filmmakers as well as reintroduce underseen repertory classics from acclaimed directors to North American audiences. Its first release is Japanese filmmaker Tadashi Nagayama’s second film, Being Natural (2018), which starts preorders today.
Upcoming releases include a restored version of Cain & Abel (1982), from the Philippines’ Lino Brocka; and...
- 12/3/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Carlo Francisco Manatad is a Filipino film director and editor based in Manila. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines Film Institute. His short film, “Junilyn Has”, competed at the Festival del film Locarno and went on to screen at several international film festivals such as Clermont Ferrand, Uppsala, Winterthur and Busan to name a few. “Sandra and Fatima Marie Torres and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25” has won awards in Russia, Romania and the USA, most notably winning the Best Comedy Short at the Aspenshorts Fest – an Oscar qualifying film festival. A Philippine and Singaporean co-production, “Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month”, his last short film was selected in competition at the 56th Semaine de la Critique at the 70th Cannes International Film Festival. One of the most prolific editors in the Philippines today, he has collaborated with numerous filmmakers for independent and mainstream scene.
- 9/7/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Dealing with the lives of the poor through narratives that are both dramatic but also quite entertaining was one of the traits of Lino Brocka, who, in this case, combines drama with exploitation in impressive fashion.
The story is based on the 1961 essay written by Nick Joaquin on the notorious 1960 Brown Derby shooting (as printed in Reportage on Crime) of Napoleon Nodecal, and revolves around Poldo, a lowly security guard in a publishing firm, who strives to provide for his mother and siblings, living in intense poverty. His life changes, however, when one night he defends the son of the owner, Sonny, from his frenemy, Direk who is enraged because the former stole his girlfriend from him. Poldo proves particularly tough, soon gaining the nickname ‘Jaguar’ and finding himself hanging out with the rich Sonny and his friends, all of whom frequently indulge in drugs and intense consumption of alcohol.
The story is based on the 1961 essay written by Nick Joaquin on the notorious 1960 Brown Derby shooting (as printed in Reportage on Crime) of Napoleon Nodecal, and revolves around Poldo, a lowly security guard in a publishing firm, who strives to provide for his mother and siblings, living in intense poverty. His life changes, however, when one night he defends the son of the owner, Sonny, from his frenemy, Direk who is enraged because the former stole his girlfriend from him. Poldo proves particularly tough, soon gaining the nickname ‘Jaguar’ and finding himself hanging out with the rich Sonny and his friends, all of whom frequently indulge in drugs and intense consumption of alcohol.
- 11/8/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
“Insiang” is a landmark for Filipino cinema. It was the first film to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival, the first to be shot in the slums of Tondo, in Manila, while in 2015, Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation picked it for restoration, with the new version playing again in Cannes among a number of other festivals. Furthermore, Lamberto Antonio (occasionally mentioned as the Philippine Salvatore Quasimodo), one of the scriptwriters is considered one of the best Filipino poets, while Mario O’Hara, the other one, was also a successful director who directed a theater version of the film some years later (info courtesy of Khavn).
Poverty, misery, drunkenness, and gambling rule the shanty town of Tondo, where people barely make a living through mostly odd jobs. Insiang is one of the few exceptions of true beauty in this setting, although her life is by no means easier due to the fact.
Poverty, misery, drunkenness, and gambling rule the shanty town of Tondo, where people barely make a living through mostly odd jobs. Insiang is one of the few exceptions of true beauty in this setting, although her life is by no means easier due to the fact.
- 11/4/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
And the names and faces of the tyrants changeBut poverty, pain and murder remainsAnd the voices of truth are locked up in chainsDarkness remains, freedom in flames—The Jerks, RageIn Lino Brocka's big-city melodrama Manila in the Claws of Light (1975), set at the height of Ferdinand Marcos's 1972-1986 military-backed dictatorship, construction worker Julio and his colleagues are subjected to a form of labor abuse nicknamed "taiwan": if at the end of the working day they want to receive their salary, they have to buy it from their employer by waiving 10% of the money they are owed. Moreover, on a nominal daily salary of 4 Php per employee, the foreman takes 1,50 Php for himself as a commission. Finally, if Julio and the other construction workers have no place to live in Manila and wish to sleep in the construction site, they can do so in exchange for yet another deduction from their salary.
- 9/12/2020
- MUBI
One of the most interesting sections of Cannes Film Festival each year is their Classics section, which is made up of new restorations and filmmaking-related documentaries. The lineup often gives a look ahead at what classic and overlooked films may be getting new Blu-ray editions, as well as digital debuts, and theatrical re-releases. Following the reveal of Cannes-selected premieres this year, they’ve now unveiled their Classics lineup.
This year’s slate, made up of 25 features and 7 documentaries, will screen at the Lumière festival in Lyon and by the Rencontres Cinématographiques de Cannes. Leading the pack, and announced a few months ago, is the new 20th anniversary restoration of In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai. Also in the lineup is 60th anniversary restorations of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless and Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura, while a selection of Federico Fellini classics have been restored for this 100th birthday.
Peter Wollen’s Friendship’s Death,...
This year’s slate, made up of 25 features and 7 documentaries, will screen at the Lumière festival in Lyon and by the Rencontres Cinématographiques de Cannes. Leading the pack, and announced a few months ago, is the new 20th anniversary restoration of In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai. Also in the lineup is 60th anniversary restorations of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless and Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura, while a selection of Federico Fellini classics have been restored for this 100th birthday.
Peter Wollen’s Friendship’s Death,...
- 7/15/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Edsa is an acronym referring to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, the longest highway in Manila and the whole of the Philippines, and also the central stage of the 1986 revolution that ended the 20-year dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. Using the events as a starting point (through actual footage that are repeated throughout the movie), Khavn presents a political satire/musical that aims to highlight that nothing ever changes in the political setting of the country.
Of course, this allegory is by no means generic. Khavn places his story in 2030, in the Ek-Ek-Ek democracy, a fictional country that functions as a metaphor for the Philippines, where a number of leaders that are soon proved puppets in the hands of a mysterious organization called the Hukbalaka, succeed one another until leadership falls into the hands of the stupidest of them all, Three Eyes.
Through the story of Three Eyes and his rise,...
Of course, this allegory is by no means generic. Khavn places his story in 2030, in the Ek-Ek-Ek democracy, a fictional country that functions as a metaphor for the Philippines, where a number of leaders that are soon proved puppets in the hands of a mysterious organization called the Hukbalaka, succeed one another until leadership falls into the hands of the stupidest of them all, Three Eyes.
Through the story of Three Eyes and his rise,...
- 4/24/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
About the Film
“Kontra Madiaga” seems like a kind of mantra, reminiscent of a religious cult, which at the same time has a threatening side, but also something old and therefore self-evident. The leading role is played by the Philippine veteran actor Bembol Roco, who ties in with two of his early roles, both with a similar name. During his long collaboration with director Lino Brocka, Roco first appeared 1975 in “Manila in the Claws of Light” (“Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag”) as Julio Madiaga and in 1989, in the last film the director and actor realized together, as “Commander Kontra” in “Orapronobis” (aka “Les Insoumis” aka “Fight For Us”). Both characters are driven by their wish and need to take revenge.
Synopsis
In a short video of about 1.5 minutes, the audience is confronted with a male figure who is obviously driven by anger and has a mission. Khavn conceives his...
“Kontra Madiaga” seems like a kind of mantra, reminiscent of a religious cult, which at the same time has a threatening side, but also something old and therefore self-evident. The leading role is played by the Philippine veteran actor Bembol Roco, who ties in with two of his early roles, both with a similar name. During his long collaboration with director Lino Brocka, Roco first appeared 1975 in “Manila in the Claws of Light” (“Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag”) as Julio Madiaga and in 1989, in the last film the director and actor realized together, as “Commander Kontra” in “Orapronobis” (aka “Les Insoumis” aka “Fight For Us”). Both characters are driven by their wish and need to take revenge.
Synopsis
In a short video of about 1.5 minutes, the audience is confronted with a male figure who is obviously driven by anger and has a mission. Khavn conceives his...
- 4/17/2020
- by Teresa Vena
- AsianMoviePulse
In a short video of about 1.5 minutes, the audience is confronted with a male figure who is obviously driven by anger and has a mission. Khavn conceives his short film “Kontra Madiaga” as a kind of application video. The main character introduces himself as Kontra Madiaga, he comes from the darkest depths of Manila, condemned to murder people for all eternity.
Khavn fades in the text on black boards like in a silent movie, it seems to be typewritten. The text fragments are also combined as in a blackmail letter, slightly oblique to each other. This gives the film a somewhat old-fashioned touch, a retro aesthetic, which is also evident in the images of Kontra Madiaga in action. Khavn refrains from using special effects and concentrates on simple means, which give the video the style of a documentary film and thus make it especially impressive. The decision to only hint...
Khavn fades in the text on black boards like in a silent movie, it seems to be typewritten. The text fragments are also combined as in a blackmail letter, slightly oblique to each other. This gives the film a somewhat old-fashioned touch, a retro aesthetic, which is also evident in the images of Kontra Madiaga in action. Khavn refrains from using special effects and concentrates on simple means, which give the video the style of a documentary film and thus make it especially impressive. The decision to only hint...
- 4/16/2020
- by Teresa Vena
- AsianMoviePulse
I became familiar with the work of Adam Taufiq Suharto through our ‘submit your film’ initiative, reviewing his work “Belas“, “Gelora“, “Balah Tuah“, and “Dekaden“, with another contributor covering his debut “Falasi“. These films act as an example of what makes the ‘submit your film’ process exciting for a critic, showcasing unique talent that has potential to become a defining voice in cinema. Suharto is one of the many directors through our initiative that has left that impression. The interest in his projects grew through experiencing his ability to convey deeply introspective narratives, utilizing the universally understood language of cinema, as well as a sharp visual style which can transition from serene to disquieting in a seamless fashion. With admiration for his work, I wanted to speak to Adam Taufiq Suharto to better understand his process and thoughts on film. Suharto was also shortlisted in our annual list of best...
- 3/15/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
In the unique cinematic universe of Khavn, one of the few standards one can pinpoint is the music video aesthetics, as a number of his films function as a collage of his extreme ideas through the combination of music and editing. In the case of “Manila in the Fangs of Darkness” however, even this element is pushed to the background as the film functions as a tribute to the iconic Lino Brocka masterpiece “Manila in the Claws of Light” and its protagonist, Bembol Roco, but at the same time, also as a video essay that analyzes the film, in the form of another film. Confused? Get used to that feeling, because confusion is another of Khavn’s trademarks.
From the opening titles, the tribute-like nature of the film becomes quite evident, with a sense of retro permeating the screen, along with Khavn’s extreme sense of humor,...
From the opening titles, the tribute-like nature of the film becomes quite evident, with a sense of retro permeating the screen, along with Khavn’s extreme sense of humor,...
- 12/22/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Considered by many as one of the greatest films of Filipino cinema, and one of the few from the country that is consistently placed among the world’s top films of all time, “Manila in the Claws of Light” is a definite masterpiece, a movie that presents the reality of the city during the 70’s in the most realistic fashion, without, though, neglecting its aesthetics and the entertainment it offers, even for a frame.
“Manila in the Claws of Light” is screening at Across Asia Film Festival
The story is based on the novel “In the Claws of Brightness” by Edgardo M. Reyes, and focuses on Julio Madiaga, a country bumpkin who arrives in Manila from Marinduque island. His purpose is both to get a better life but also to track down the love of his life, Ligaya, who was brought to Manila by a mysterious lady named Mrs Cruz,...
“Manila in the Claws of Light” is screening at Across Asia Film Festival
The story is based on the novel “In the Claws of Brightness” by Edgardo M. Reyes, and focuses on Julio Madiaga, a country bumpkin who arrives in Manila from Marinduque island. His purpose is both to get a better life but also to track down the love of his life, Ligaya, who was brought to Manila by a mysterious lady named Mrs Cruz,...
- 12/20/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Across Asia Film Festival (Aaff) in Cagliari, in the beautiful Italian island of Sardinia, is back on the 14th of December with a Programme focused mainly on the Philippines and Taiwan, including collateral events, guests and some interesting gems, like a restored edition of the classic Lino Brocka’s “Manila in the Claws of Light”, a Masterclass with directors Shireen Seno and John Torres and the Italian Premiere of “The Kalampag Tracking Agency” an ongoing curatorial initiative between Shireen Seno of Los Otros and Merv Espina of Generation Loss.
Across Asia Film Festival is focused on most interesting languages of recent cinematographic production from Asia, with the goal of promoting and developing cultural exchanges between Italian and foreigners communities. Stefano Galanti and Maria Paola Zedda are the creators and the artistic directors of the event.
“Nina Wu” by Midi Z
The Festival will kick off with “The Night of the...
Across Asia Film Festival is focused on most interesting languages of recent cinematographic production from Asia, with the goal of promoting and developing cultural exchanges between Italian and foreigners communities. Stefano Galanti and Maria Paola Zedda are the creators and the artistic directors of the event.
“Nina Wu” by Midi Z
The Festival will kick off with “The Night of the...
- 12/6/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
It is a Sunday night, a New Year’s Eve. The Boy (Aeious) enters an empty gay night club. He is 18, he writes poetry and he is curious. Obviously new to the world, as he cautiously learns and adapts to this specific biotope. The performers enter and leave the stage, but it is not until the young dancer in a loincloth-thingy, that the Boy’s attention stops slipping away. Aries (Aries) is 18 years old, has a full set of teeth and under the loincloth-thingy hides some 7.5 inches.
“Boy” is screening at the 13th Slovak Queer Film Festival in Bratislava (16 – 21 October 2019).
Macho dancer films constitute a very specific genre in the Philippines Lgbtqia+ cinema. Named after the 1988 Lino Brocka “Macho Dancer”, their main raison d’être is to please the gaze. It only makes sense to set the stories of various intrigues into the worlds of night clubs, back alleys and...
“Boy” is screening at the 13th Slovak Queer Film Festival in Bratislava (16 – 21 October 2019).
Macho dancer films constitute a very specific genre in the Philippines Lgbtqia+ cinema. Named after the 1988 Lino Brocka “Macho Dancer”, their main raison d’être is to please the gaze. It only makes sense to set the stories of various intrigues into the worlds of night clubs, back alleys and...
- 10/16/2019
- by Anomalilly
- AsianMoviePulse
30 Major Filmmakers Salute Strand Releasing’s 30 Years of Arthouse Distribution With New Short Films
For three decades, Strand Releasing has remained at the cutting-edge of arthouse distribution in America. Now, many of those filmmakers are returning the favor. For its 30th anniversary this fall, the company has commissioned 30 new short films shot on iPhones directed by world-class filmmakers. Entitled “30/30 Vision: 3 Decades of Strand Releasing,” the shorts will screen at several venues around the country this fall. The selection of shorts was produced by filmmaker Connor Jessup (“Simon’s Forest”), who also contributed to the selection.
Each short runs around one minute. Contributors include auteurs such as John Waters, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Catherine Breillat, in addition to emerging filmmakers like Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), Andrew Ahn (“Driveways”), and Brady Corbet (“Vox Lux”). Two shorts from the project, from filmmakers Karim Ainouz and Fatih Akin, can be viewed here.
Strand Releasing was founded in 1989 by partners Jon Gerrans, Marcus Hu, and Mike Thomas. The company took...
Each short runs around one minute. Contributors include auteurs such as John Waters, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Catherine Breillat, in addition to emerging filmmakers like Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), Andrew Ahn (“Driveways”), and Brady Corbet (“Vox Lux”). Two shorts from the project, from filmmakers Karim Ainouz and Fatih Akin, can be viewed here.
Strand Releasing was founded in 1989 by partners Jon Gerrans, Marcus Hu, and Mike Thomas. The company took...
- 9/18/2019
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Most of the times, and particularly in the West, when one refers to Asian cinema, one usually talks about Japan, S. Korea and the Sinophone world. However, the more I deal with the cinema of the Philippines, the more I feel that the country’s filmography deserves a place in the particular discourse, both for its past but also for its present and its future.
Through interviews conducted with a number of the directors in the list (you can check the links in their names) and a number of reviews of their films (you can check the links in the titles) you can find more detailed information on their work and perspective, but, evidently, this is an effort of presenting and cataloguing (to a point at least) instead of analyzing, which will definitely come in the future, as Filipino cinema will be one that Asian Movie Pulse and me personally focus on the next years.
Through interviews conducted with a number of the directors in the list (you can check the links in their names) and a number of reviews of their films (you can check the links in the titles) you can find more detailed information on their work and perspective, but, evidently, this is an effort of presenting and cataloguing (to a point at least) instead of analyzing, which will definitely come in the future, as Filipino cinema will be one that Asian Movie Pulse and me personally focus on the next years.
- 8/4/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Film programs include one of the first lesbian Bollywood films (“Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga”), a film with the backdrop of 80’s Saigon and its Vietnamese folk opera (“Song Lang”) and an Indonesian culinary journey through film (“Aruna and her Palate”)
The special series “From The Claws of Darkness: Restoring Philippine Cinema” brings the second golden age of Philippine film to the big screen for audiences to enjoy once again, including “Moral,” “Himala,” and “Batch ‘81”and “Manila In The Claws of Light”
San Diego, California – March 26, 2019 – The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (Sdaff) Spring Showcase, presented by Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) will be taking place on April 11-18 at the UltraStar Mission Valley. This year, a majority of the showcased films highlight South Asian and Southeast Asian stories.
There will also be a special collection of milestone Filipino films shown as a part of the...
The special series “From The Claws of Darkness: Restoring Philippine Cinema” brings the second golden age of Philippine film to the big screen for audiences to enjoy once again, including “Moral,” “Himala,” and “Batch ‘81”and “Manila In The Claws of Light”
San Diego, California – March 26, 2019 – The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (Sdaff) Spring Showcase, presented by Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) will be taking place on April 11-18 at the UltraStar Mission Valley. This year, a majority of the showcased films highlight South Asian and Southeast Asian stories.
There will also be a special collection of milestone Filipino films shown as a part of the...
- 3/28/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The festival will close with the world premiere of Yuen Woo-ping’s Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy.
South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Biff) will open with the world premiere of Jero Yun’s North Korean refugee drama Beautiful Days, starring Lee Na-young (Howling).
The festival will close with the world premiere of Yuen Woo-ping’s Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, featuring action stars such as Zhang Jin, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Jaa and Dave Bautista.
Set to run October 4-13, the 23rd Biff will screen 323 films from 79 countries with 140 world and international premieres. All the New Currents...
South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Biff) will open with the world premiere of Jero Yun’s North Korean refugee drama Beautiful Days, starring Lee Na-young (Howling).
The festival will close with the world premiere of Yuen Woo-ping’s Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, featuring action stars such as Zhang Jin, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Jaa and Dave Bautista.
Set to run October 4-13, the 23rd Biff will screen 323 films from 79 countries with 140 world and international premieres. All the New Currents...
- 9/4/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
The festival will close with the world premiere of Yuen Woo-ping’s Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy.
South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Biff) will open with the world premiere of Jero Yun’s North Korean refugee drama Beautiful Days, starring Lee Na-young (Howling).
The festival will close with the world premiere of Yuen Woo-ping’s Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, featuring action stars such as Zhang Jin, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Jaa and Dave Bautista.
Set to run October 4-13, the 23rd Biff will screen 323 films from 79 countries with 140 world and international premieres. All the New Currents...
South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Biff) will open with the world premiere of Jero Yun’s North Korean refugee drama Beautiful Days, starring Lee Na-young (Howling).
The festival will close with the world premiere of Yuen Woo-ping’s Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, featuring action stars such as Zhang Jin, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Jaa and Dave Bautista.
Set to run October 4-13, the 23rd Biff will screen 323 films from 79 countries with 140 world and international premieres. All the New Currents...
- 9/4/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
The following essay was produced as part of the 2018 Locarno Critics Academy, a workshop for aspiring film critics that took place during the Locarno Film Festival.
In a present that is increasingly difficult to comprehend, directing one’s gaze towards the past is not only comforting — it also helps contextualize the present moment. This year’s edition of the Locarno Film Festival certainly had that effect, as many of its films — ranging from the mammoth projections in Piazza Grande (with titles ranging from Lino Brocka’s “Manila in the Claws of Light” and Spike Lee’s “BlackKklansman”) to the films included across its myriad sections — were visibly driven by the desire to showcase history.
Locarno is both an outlet for cutting-edge films that showcase the most recent developments across the global independent film industry, and a space that honors masterpieces of the past. An entire section of the festival — the...
In a present that is increasingly difficult to comprehend, directing one’s gaze towards the past is not only comforting — it also helps contextualize the present moment. This year’s edition of the Locarno Film Festival certainly had that effect, as many of its films — ranging from the mammoth projections in Piazza Grande (with titles ranging from Lino Brocka’s “Manila in the Claws of Light” and Spike Lee’s “BlackKklansman”) to the films included across its myriad sections — were visibly driven by the desire to showcase history.
Locarno is both an outlet for cutting-edge films that showcase the most recent developments across the global independent film industry, and a space that honors masterpieces of the past. An entire section of the festival — the...
- 8/25/2018
- by Flavia Dima
- Indiewire
Fritz Lang's House By The River starring Louis Hayward and Jane Wyatt to screen in the tribute to Pierre Rissient
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced that they will honour Pierre Rissient, programmer of the Mac-Mahon Theatre in Paris, publicist in partnership with Bertrand Tavernier, Cannes Film Festival mover and shaker, and so much more. Seven films will screen in tribute in the Retrospective section of the 56th New York Film Festival.
Clint Eastwood's Play Misty For Me; Raoul Walsh's The Man I Love with Ida Lupino, Bruce Bennett and Robert Alda; Joseph Losey's Time Without Pity starring Michael Redgrave; Mehboob Khan's Mother India with Nargis; King Hu's A Touch Of Zen; Lino Brocka's Manila In The Claws Of Light with Bembel Roco and Hilda Koronel, and Fritz Lang's House By The River.
The Retrospective section is co-programmed by New York...
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced that they will honour Pierre Rissient, programmer of the Mac-Mahon Theatre in Paris, publicist in partnership with Bertrand Tavernier, Cannes Film Festival mover and shaker, and so much more. Seven films will screen in tribute in the Retrospective section of the 56th New York Film Festival.
Clint Eastwood's Play Misty For Me; Raoul Walsh's The Man I Love with Ida Lupino, Bruce Bennett and Robert Alda; Joseph Losey's Time Without Pity starring Michael Redgrave; Mehboob Khan's Mother India with Nargis; King Hu's A Touch Of Zen; Lino Brocka's Manila In The Claws Of Light with Bembel Roco and Hilda Koronel, and Fritz Lang's House By The River.
The Retrospective section is co-programmed by New York...
- 8/24/2018
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea are the big Asian territories that come to mind when audiences think of quality action movies. Of course, some incredible action films, like “The Raid” franchise, have come from other, smaller, Asian countries. However, the Philippines has struggled to gain a foothold in the worldwide cinematic consciousness. Filmmakers Lav Diaz and Brillante Mendoza have experienced success on the festival circuit, but not in Western cinemas, and The Criterion Collection has only recently inducted the nation into their canon in the form of two Lino Brocka classics.
Continue reading ‘BuyBust’ Is A Unflinchingly Visceral, Hard-Hitting Actioner With An Incredible Lead Performance [Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘BuyBust’ Is A Unflinchingly Visceral, Hard-Hitting Actioner With An Incredible Lead Performance [Review] at The Playlist.
- 8/8/2018
- by Bradley Warren
- The Playlist
New films from Hong Sangsoo, Abbas Fahdel, Radu Muntean in competition.
The line-up for Carlo Chatrian’s last outing as the artistic director of the Locarno Festival (Aug 1-11) in Switzerland includes the world premieres of Swiss filmmaker Bettina Oberli’s Le Vent Tourne and German director Sandra Nettelbeck’s tragicomedy Was Uns Nicht Umbringt.
Both will screen as part of the non-competitive Piazza Grande open-air programme.
Scroll down for full line-up
Further Piazza Grande films include Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, actor-director Ethan Hawke’s Blaze, Aneesh Chaganty’s debut feature Searching, and the late Filipino filmmaker Lino Brocka’s...
The line-up for Carlo Chatrian’s last outing as the artistic director of the Locarno Festival (Aug 1-11) in Switzerland includes the world premieres of Swiss filmmaker Bettina Oberli’s Le Vent Tourne and German director Sandra Nettelbeck’s tragicomedy Was Uns Nicht Umbringt.
Both will screen as part of the non-competitive Piazza Grande open-air programme.
Scroll down for full line-up
Further Piazza Grande films include Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, actor-director Ethan Hawke’s Blaze, Aneesh Chaganty’s debut feature Searching, and the late Filipino filmmaker Lino Brocka’s...
- 7/11/2018
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Khavn De La Cruz is a poet, pianist, visual artist, and Father of Philippine Digital Filmmaking—has made 52 features and 115 short films. His films have screened at the MoMA, Guggenheim, Tate, Venice Architecture Biennale. He has presented retrospectives of his films, curated programs on Lino Brocka and the Philippine New Wave for Viennale, Cph:dox, Sharjah Biennale, and Edinburgh; and lectured in various international film festivals. He is the president of the film, music, & publishing label Kamias Overground and festival director of .Mov, the first digital film festival in the Philippines.
Here are his top ten Philippine films, in chronological order.
1. Prinsesa Naranja [Princess Naranja] (1960) — Nemesio E. Caravana
Three Romantic Stories in a great epic as colorful as it is magnificent.
2. Elias, Basilio, & Sisa (1972) — Jun Aristorenas
3. Si Popeye, Atbp. [Popeye, Etc.] (1973) — Ishmael Bernal, Joey Gosiengfiao, Elwood Perez
Si Popeye, atbp (Popeye etc.) is an unofficial Popeye film released in the Philippines in 1973. A live-action film,...
Here are his top ten Philippine films, in chronological order.
1. Prinsesa Naranja [Princess Naranja] (1960) — Nemesio E. Caravana
Three Romantic Stories in a great epic as colorful as it is magnificent.
2. Elias, Basilio, & Sisa (1972) — Jun Aristorenas
3. Si Popeye, Atbp. [Popeye, Etc.] (1973) — Ishmael Bernal, Joey Gosiengfiao, Elwood Perez
Si Popeye, atbp (Popeye etc.) is an unofficial Popeye film released in the Philippines in 1973. A live-action film,...
- 6/22/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
As it prepares for the latest iteration of its annual marquee event, the Toronto International Film Festival has announced a filmmaker-heavy jury for its Platform section, one of only three sections in the festival to award honors based on jury votes. The jury includes New German Cinema legend Margarethe von Trotta, Hungarian existential filmmaker Béla Tarr, and South Korean director and novelist Lee Chang-dong.
This year’s edition of the festival will mark the fourth time the Platform section has been a part of the fest, as it was first announced in 2015. The section is designed to “champion up to 12 works with high artistic merit that also demonstrate a strong directorial vision.” The three-person jury will pick the winner of the Toronto Platform Prize, which includes an award of $25,000 Cad presented to the Best Film in the lineup.
“We are privileged to have a Platform jury that so perfectly embodies the programme’s essence,...
This year’s edition of the festival will mark the fourth time the Platform section has been a part of the fest, as it was first announced in 2015. The section is designed to “champion up to 12 works with high artistic merit that also demonstrate a strong directorial vision.” The three-person jury will pick the winner of the Toronto Platform Prize, which includes an award of $25,000 Cad presented to the Best Film in the lineup.
“We are privileged to have a Platform jury that so perfectly embodies the programme’s essence,...
- 5/10/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Shireen Seno’s sophomore feature Nervous Translation confirms her place as a unique voice in a national cinema that often gets ignored, or distilled to only a few directors. While mainstays like Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, and Lino Brocka all are worthy of their relative praise, their shared pessimism can make forays into Filipino culture a challenging prospect. Seno, whose newest film assumes the perspective and imagination of young eight-year-old Yael, presents an innocent and sincere frame of reference into the culture, inspired by Seno’s own experiences growing up in the Filipino diaspora.
Yael is often left to her own devices at home. Her mother Valentina works through the day and lives through soap operas at night, too exhausted to spend time with her daughter, while her father is a part of the Philippines “biggest export”–the overseas worker, funding their more privileged lifestyle in their large dollhouse home.
Yael is often left to her own devices at home. Her mother Valentina works through the day and lives through soap operas at night, too exhausted to spend time with her daughter, while her father is a part of the Philippines “biggest export”–the overseas worker, funding their more privileged lifestyle in their large dollhouse home.
- 3/31/2018
- by Jason Ooi
- The Film Stage
The Criterion Collection is going bowling. Michael Moore’s Oscar-winning documentary “Bowling for Columbine” will be released on DVD and Blu-ray by the Collection this June, ditto “Manila in the Claws of Light,” “El Sur,” “Female Trouble,” and a new edition of Ingmar Bergman’s “The Virgin Spring.”
16 years later, Moore’s take on America’s gun culture in general and the aftermath of the school shooting at Columbine in particular feels more relevant than ever, making this new release nothing if not timely. More information — and, as ever, cover art — below.
Manila in the Claws of Light
“Lino Brocka broke through to international acclaim with this candid portrait of 1970s Manila, the second film in the director’s turn to more serious-minded filmmaking after building a career on mainstream films he described as ‘soaps.’ A young fisherman from a provincial village arrives in the capital on a quest to track down his girlfriend,...
16 years later, Moore’s take on America’s gun culture in general and the aftermath of the school shooting at Columbine in particular feels more relevant than ever, making this new release nothing if not timely. More information — and, as ever, cover art — below.
Manila in the Claws of Light
“Lino Brocka broke through to international acclaim with this candid portrait of 1970s Manila, the second film in the director’s turn to more serious-minded filmmaking after building a career on mainstream films he described as ‘soaps.’ A young fisherman from a provincial village arrives in the capital on a quest to track down his girlfriend,...
- 3/15/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.Recommended VIEWINGThe second arresting trailer has arrived for Yorgos Lanthimos' latest, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, his second English language film, starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman. Read review of the film from the Cannes Film Festival here.We admired Alex Garland's feature debut, Ex Machina, and interviewed its product designer. Hence why we're all the more excited for his forthcoming deep dive into sci-fi, Annihilation, adapted from Jeff VanderMeer's wonderfully eerie novel.The first look at Woody Allen's Wonder Wheel, starring Kate Winslet and Justin Timberland and shot by the legendary Vittorio Storaro. Finally, the trailer for Ryusuke Hamaguchi's luminous melodrama Happy Hour. Read our rave review from our coverage of the Locarno Festival in 2015.Paul Thomas Anderson's collaboration with Haim continues with yet another breathlessly staged and lensed music video.
- 10/4/2017
- MUBI
In those circles traveled by fans and collectors of anything home video, few things are more hallowed than The Criterion Collection’s first volume of their World Cinema Project DVD/Blu-ray series. One of the company’s most lauded and adored releases in recent memory, Volume 1 of Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project included six new restorations of six legendary films spanning the history of world cinema. From a foundational work in African cinema to a tale of sexual obsession that changed the history of Korean filmmaking, the first in this series has become one of the most important and exciting releases in recent Criterion Collection memory.
And finally, they’re back for a second round.
Again bringing to light six superlative films from across the world, “No. 2” as it’s billed on their website features a treasure trove of world cinema that in many ways rivals if not exceeds its predecessor.
And finally, they’re back for a second round.
Again bringing to light six superlative films from across the world, “No. 2” as it’s billed on their website features a treasure trove of world cinema that in many ways rivals if not exceeds its predecessor.
- 6/16/2017
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
After four years Martin Scorsese is back with another six filmic gems from all corners of the Earth. Love struggles in the slums of Thailand and the economic boom town of Taipei; underdog heroes undertake troubled missions in Turkey and Kazakhstan, a Malay storyteller plays cinematic games with basic narrative, and a vintage Brazilian art film is pure visual poetry. They’ve all been rescued by the World Cinema Project.
Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project No. 2
Blu-ray + DVD
The Criterion Collection 873-879
1931 – 2000 / Color + B&W / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date May 30, 2017 / 124.95
Directed by Lino Brocka, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Ermek Shinarbaev, Mário Peixoto, Lütfi Ö. Akad, Edward Yang
I readily confess that in my patchy history of film festival attendance, I gravitated not toward the really obscure foreign films, unless they promise to be as entertaining as things I’m more familiar with. Based on the results, one of...
Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project No. 2
Blu-ray + DVD
The Criterion Collection 873-879
1931 – 2000 / Color + B&W / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date May 30, 2017 / 124.95
Directed by Lino Brocka, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Ermek Shinarbaev, Mário Peixoto, Lütfi Ö. Akad, Edward Yang
I readily confess that in my patchy history of film festival attendance, I gravitated not toward the really obscure foreign films, unless they promise to be as entertaining as things I’m more familiar with. Based on the results, one of...
- 5/23/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The Philippine Daily Inquirer is reporting that Lino Brocka’s 1975 film, Manila in the Claws of Light (Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag) will be joining the Criterion Collection in 2017. This will be the first Filipino film in the Collection.
Lino Brocka’s “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag,” which was restored by the Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, will be released by the prestigious Criterion Collection and Janus Films next year.
The good news was relayed to the Inquirer by filmmaker Mike de Leon, who’s the cinematographer and producer of the landmark social-realist drama released in 1975.
Jennifer Ahn, managing director of the Film Foundation, told De Leon that “Maynila” is “on the short list of titles for distribution in 2017.” Ahn explained that the film will be “available on DVD/Blu-ray in North America.”
Manila in the Claws of Light was restored by the Film Foundation and L’Immagine Ritrovata.
Lino Brocka’s “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag,” which was restored by the Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, will be released by the prestigious Criterion Collection and Janus Films next year.
The good news was relayed to the Inquirer by filmmaker Mike de Leon, who’s the cinematographer and producer of the landmark social-realist drama released in 1975.
Jennifer Ahn, managing director of the Film Foundation, told De Leon that “Maynila” is “on the short list of titles for distribution in 2017.” Ahn explained that the film will be “available on DVD/Blu-ray in North America.”
Manila in the Claws of Light was restored by the Film Foundation and L’Immagine Ritrovata.
- 10/25/2016
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
Mubi is proud to present the first-ever online retrospective of renowned Filipino auteur Lav Diaz. To give audiences the proper time to spend immersed in Diaz’s cinema, Mubi will debut one film each month during the retrospective.Illustration by Leah BravoFilmmaker Lavrente Indico Diaz, named after Soviet statesman Lavrentiy Beria (1899-1953), was born on December 30th 1958 in the municipality of Datu Paglas, province of Maguindanao, Mindanao Island, Southern Philippines. The son of a fervently Catholic woman from the Visayas (Central Philippines) and a Socialist intellectual from Ilocos (Northern Philippines) who, firmly believing that education is the key to improve Man's condition, devoted their lives to schooling peasants in the poorest, remotest Maguindanao villages, Diaz has always had an utilitarian conception of culture and, by extension, of all forms of artistic expression. To Diaz, art should not be an end to itself, a purely formalist exercise, but—to paraphrase a...
- 10/8/2016
- MUBI
If, within art cinema, there comes the instant gravitation to less the film than the name — the all-powerful auteur that supposedly doesn’t have to bow down to corporate masters — then even with a film as immediately striking as 1976’s Insiang, we begin with its author, Lino Brocka. Even in a life cut tragically short, he left enough of a mark to still be considered the Philippines’ greatest filmmaker, amongst his laurels being the nation’s first director to play in competition at Cannes. A particular association made with him was an outspoken criticism of the Philippines’ dictator-in-chief, Ferdinand Marcos.
But carrying that expectation over to Insiang, even without one mention of Marcos’ name throughout the film, the presence of both a fundamentally rotten authority and people left to fend for themselves in poverty leans a viewer, even the uninformed, towards assuming a greater institutional critique. Yet to quickly sum...
But carrying that expectation over to Insiang, even without one mention of Marcos’ name throughout the film, the presence of both a fundamentally rotten authority and people left to fend for themselves in poverty leans a viewer, even the uninformed, towards assuming a greater institutional critique. Yet to quickly sum...
- 4/8/2016
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
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