Duterte’s war on drugs has turned Manila into a hunting ground where extrajudicial executions take place daily. Shady criminals do the dirty work for the cops and leave the victims in the road with the accusations written on cardboard.
With great realism and viewed through the eyes of those immediately involved, this dark, sobering thriller reveals how fear and violence determine the complex relationships in this urban labyrinth. Toto, a homeless teen, gets caught between a rock and a hard place when the police arrest his older brother. To get him out, he has to betray a drug dealer thereby risking revenge from a street gang. Contract killer Irma takes him under her wing, but also tries to make Toto, who has never killed anyone, her understudy. With loyalties tested and unexpected acts of violence burning the bridges behind him, the end result becomes less predictable.
Film details
Productieland
Philippines
Jaar
2017
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2018
Lengte
101'
Medium/Formaat
DCP
Taal
Tagalog
Première status
International premiere
Director
Mikhail Red
Screenplay
Mikhail Red, Rae Red, Zig Dulay
Editing
Mikhail Red, Jeffrey Loreno
Producer
Sara Santiago, Nicole Runi
Production company
Waning Crescent Arts
Sales / World rights holder
Waning Crescent Arts
Cinematography
Mycko David
Production design
Daniel Red
Sound design
JR Doroteo, Ditoy Aguila
Music
Paul Sigua, Myka Magsaysay
Principal cast
Eula Valdes, Tim Castillo, Rocky Salumbides, Jess Mendoza, Angeli Bayani, Angeline Andoy, Ross Pesigan