The Ashes and Ghosts of Tayug 1931

  • 115'
  • Philippines
  • 2017

The Philippines' complicated colonial and post-colonial history remains an important subject in the work of many local filmmakers, signalling an ongoing struggle that has its roots in a dark, underexposed past. This includes many uprisings, political or religious, that were usually quickly put down by the army. At Tayug in 1931, Pedro Calosa, a local farmer who had been a migrant worker on Hawaii, led one such a peasant revolt.

Gozum's fascinating film offers a layered portrait of the events using different cinematic approaches. He introduces a filmmaker doing research for a film, in hyper-sharp documentary photo-reportage style. Events from the 1930s are presented, elegantly, as a silent film; the story of the first researchers who come to talk to the reclusive Calosa in the 1960s, is also done in fitting style. Gradually, not only the story of the tragic story of repression and resistance is uncovered, but also the way it has been told.

Director
Christopher Gozum
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Philippines
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
115'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Dapol tan payawar na Tayug 1931
Languages
Pangasinan, Iloko
Producer
Fe GingGing Hyde
Sales
Christopher Gozum
Screenplay
Christopher Gozum
Cinematography
Chino de Vera
Editor
Epoy Deyto, Carla Pulido Ocampo
Production Design
Hiyas Bagabaldo
Sound Design
Willie Apa Jr.
Music
Ran Kirlian, Darren Vega
Cast
Fe GingGing Hyde, Donna Cariaga, Brigida Concepcion Calosa-Rodico, Ruby Calosa Torio-Marquez, William Calosa-Torio, Rosita Calosa-Torio
Director
Christopher Gozum
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Philippines
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
115'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Dapol tan payawar na Tayug 1931
Languages
Pangasinan, Iloko
Producer
Fe GingGing Hyde
Sales
Christopher Gozum
Screenplay
Christopher Gozum
Cinematography
Chino de Vera
Editor
Epoy Deyto, Carla Pulido Ocampo
Production Design
Hiyas Bagabaldo
Sound Design
Willie Apa Jr.
Music
Ran Kirlian, Darren Vega
Cast
Fe GingGing Hyde, Donna Cariaga, Brigida Concepcion Calosa-Rodico, Ruby Calosa Torio-Marquez, William Calosa-Torio, Rosita Calosa-Torio