The 2008 Cinemanila International Film Festival will be
ending today, October 29, by screening the Lino Brocka classic Bayan
Ko: Kapit sa Patalim. Penned by Jose "Pete" Lacaba Jr., it stars Phillip
Salvador, Gina Alajar, Claudia Zobel, and Carmi Martin. This screening also pays tribute to this year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Cinemanila, Mr. Pete Lacaba.
"Bayan Ko" in the title referred to a popular protest song while "Kapit Sa Patalim" is taken from a Filipino saying that goes: "Ang taong nagigipit, kahit sa patalim kumakapit."
In 1984, Bayan Ko was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival, making it his third film to take part at Cannes, after Insiang (1978) and Jaguar (1979).
Footage of actual demonstrations are included the film, prompting censors to prevent the film from being screened in the Philippines. According to Mr. Lacaba, Lino went all the way to the Supreme Court to fight for his film. It was only on November 1985, more than a year after its Cannes premiere, that Filipino viewers were able to see the film.
Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim (My Country: In
Desperate Straits)
SYNOPSIS (by Quark Henares). Arturo and his wife, Luz Manalastas, both work in a printing press. After Luz becomes pregnant, Arturo ("Turing") is forced to ask for a raise. When he does so, his boss asks him to sign a waiver stating that he is not part of any Labor Union. Soon after, his friends inform him that they are starting a labor union and that they are inviting him to join them. Because of the waiver, he cannot. He is branded by his mates as a traitor, and is treated badly by them. Soon after, the printing press is closed down, and the hospital where Luz is confined will not let Luz go until Turing comes up with the money to pay them. This leads Turing to pursue a life of crime.
Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim is to be screened at Gateway Mall in Cubao tonight, October 29.