This exceptional documentary deals with the threat of ugly eco-politics in the most personal and risk-taking way—by following a group of brave Filipinos who volunteer to be ‘land defenders’ trying to protect the environment despite facing death threats from corrupt authorities.
Not dull, but also not memorable, Ho’s debut feature sparkles at times but also disappoints.
Interesting but uneven, and ultimately conventional despite its experimental intent, this shot-in-16mm tribute to Filipino auteurs Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal operates as a diptych capturing the underbelly of Manila.
The four young teens at the center of Raya Martin’s new film provide a strong reason to smile in this fun and invigorating coming-of-age comedy.
Straightforward but effective feature debut that depicts the perils of social media virality in a post-truth world, through the eyes of a young boy suffering from an immeasurable injustice.
Chronic fear and the threat of violence fuel one of Lav Diaz’s shortest efforts as we follow a trio of men trek through a jungle in this crisply-shot work that doesn’t quite accumulate enough power to truly leave an impact.
Lav Diaz’s Venice Golden Lion winner has its beautiful cinematic moments, but its diminishing returns are at best tolerable.
Mendoza’s blending of documentary and fictional elements mostly works in this hard-hitting docu-drama about the survivors of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.
Mendoza’s latest doesn’t quite come together as he employs sketchy animation against his docu-realist style in an overdrawn child cancer drama with an allegorical intent that never hits any mark.
An urgent and frightening documentary for our troubled times as it tackles the problem of fake news and disinformation through the prism of politics, social media and journalism in The Philippines.
Eternality Tan 