In the opening scene of Legend of China Doll, a journalist is rapped on the knuckles by a detective because he published information about a woman called China Doll. He has put her in danger, the detective says, and the story is all wrong. The journalist shrugs his shoulders. There are many truths, he answers, depending on who experiences it. The two quarrel briefly, then the journalist walks out of the bar into the night. When the detective takes another swig of his beer, we hear gunshots. What follows is an inimitable (non-chronological), grim, very violent political conspiracy thriller directed by the Filipino auteur-provocateur Adolfo B. Alix Jr.,based on a script by his very respected fellow countryman Lav Diaz. Everything focuses on (journalistic) integrity and – above all – on China Doll, a mythical young woman with a constantly changing identity and a very violent past.
Film details
Productieland
Philippines
Jaar
2013
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2014
Lengte
85'
Medium/Formaat
DCP
Taal
Filipino
Première status
International premiere
Director
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Producer
Ronald Arguelles
Screenplay
Lav Diaz
Music
Lav Diaz
Cinematography
Albert Banzon
Editing
Charliebebs Gohetia
Production design
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Sound design
Mark Locsin, Alex Tomboc, Dante Cuanico, Albert Michael Idioma