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Director: Lino Brocka

1975, (Phillipines), 2hrs 7mins

Language: Tagalog with English subtitles

Presented by: Cinestudio in partnership with The Asian American Cultural Center at the University of Connecticut

 

One of the landmark works of Philippine cinema, Manila in the Claws of Light follows Julio, a young man who leaves his provincial village for Manila in search of his girlfriend, who disappeared after being promised work in the city.

Taking a low-paying construction job while continuing his search, Julio encounters a city shaped by inequality, exploitation, and uncertainty. Director Lino Brocka blends social realism with elements of noir and melodrama to create a powerful portrait of 1970s Manila and those struggling to find their place within it.

Restored by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Cineteca di Bologna in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, Manila in the Claws of Light remains a defining achievement of Philippine cinema.