Manila by Night, also known as City After Dark, is a controversial 1980Filipino film directed by Ishmael Bernal and starring Gina Alajar and Charito Solis. Released at the height of the Marcos regime, the film uncovers the other face of Manila by depicting the ugly aspects of life in the city – unemployment, prostitution, drug addiction and lack of decent housing. Considered one of Bernal's masterpieces, it is an epic multi-narrative of people who have shady pasts and are trying to exist in an unforgiving world.[1]
Lily Monteverde of Regal Films approached Ishmael Bernal to direct a large-scale production to commemorate the second anniversary of the production outfit. Bernal had previously directed Salahawan for Monteverde's Regal Films. For the production, Bernal came up with a sequence list, based on different locales, but decided to have the scenes improvised by a cast assembled from Regal Film's stable, as well as industry friends.[2]
Restoration
The film was restored in 4K resolution by the Philippine Film Archive, the film archives division of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and Central Digital Lab as part of the "Save Our Cinema Restoation Program".[3] The restored version was premiered as part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2020 exhibition.[4]
Reception
Critical response
The movie's original title is Manila by Night, but was later renamed to City After Dark. Former first lady Imelda Marcos asked it to be changed and banned for export. Marcos believes that the movie "maligns her city". The said movie was Ishmael Bernal's masterpiece. The characters are unique and realistic. The whole movie celebrates the night life in the streets of Manila, with the characters revolving around hookers, bisexuals, dope addicts and criminals.[5][6]
^Eusebio, Aaron Brennt (October 14, 2020). "Watch these timeless Filipino movies at the 2020 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino". GMA Network. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
^David, Joel (2017). Manila by Night: A Queer Film Classic. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press. pp. 41–46. ISBN978-1-55152-708-6.
^Seguerra, Liza Diño (August 9, 2020). "The vision for FDCP's Philippine Film Archive". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
^"Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino goes online: Watch films, help pandemic-hit film industry". Rappler. October 3, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
manila, night, also, known, city, after, dark, controversial, 1980, filipino, film, directed, ishmael, bernal, starring, gina, alajar, charito, solis, released, height, marcos, regime, film, uncovers, other, face, manila, depicting, ugly, aspects, life, city, . Manila by Night also known as City After Dark is a controversial 1980 Filipino film directed by Ishmael Bernal and starring Gina Alajar and Charito Solis Released at the height of the Marcos regime the film uncovers the other face of Manila by depicting the ugly aspects of life in the city unemployment prostitution drug addiction and lack of decent housing Considered one of Bernal s masterpieces it is an epic multi narrative of people who have shady pasts and are trying to exist in an unforgiving world 1 Manila by NightRe release poster for its screening at the Manila Film Center in 1985 Directed byIshmael BernalWritten byIshmael BernalRicardo LeeProduced byLily Y MonteverdeStarringCharito SolisAlma MorenoRio LocsinCherie GilLorna TolentinoGina AlajarOrestes OjedaCinematographyEly CruzSergio LoboEdited byAugusto SalvadorMusic byThe Vanishing TribeProductioncompaniesRegal FilmsExperimental Cinema of the PhilippinesDistributed byRegal FilmsRelease dateNovember 28 1980 1980 11 28 Running time151 minutesCountryPhilippinesLanguagesFilipinoEnglish Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Restoration 5 Reception 5 1 Critical response 5 2 Accolades 6 References 7 External linksSynopsis EditThe film s events take place in the course of several nights involving various protagonists and the city itself Cast EditCharito Solis as Virgie Alma Moreno as Adelina Lorna Tolentino as Baby Rio Locsin as Bea Cherie Gil as Kano Gina Alajar as Vanessa Orestes Ojeda as Pebrero William Martinez as Alex Bernardo Bernardo as Manay Sharon Johnny Wilson as Virgie s Husband Jojo Santiago as Greggy Williams Sharon Manabat as Gaying Mitch Valdez credited as Maya Valdez as MarichuProduction EditLily Monteverde of Regal Films approached Ishmael Bernal to direct a large scale production to commemorate the second anniversary of the production outfit Bernal had previously directed Salahawan for Monteverde s Regal Films For the production Bernal came up with a sequence list based on different locales but decided to have the scenes improvised by a cast assembled from Regal Film s stable as well as industry friends 2 Restoration EditThe film was restored in 4K resolution by the Philippine Film Archive the film archives division of the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Central Digital Lab as part of the Save Our Cinema Restoation Program 3 The restored version was premiered as part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2020 exhibition 4 Reception EditCritical response Edit The movie s original title is Manila by Night but was later renamed to City After Dark Former first lady Imelda Marcos asked it to be changed and banned for export Marcos believes that the movie maligns her city The said movie was Ishmael Bernal s masterpiece The characters are unique and realistic The whole movie celebrates the night life in the streets of Manila with the characters revolving around hookers bisexuals dope addicts and criminals 5 6 Accolades Edit Year Group Category Nominee Result1981 Gawad Urian Awards Best Picture Manila by Night WonBest Actor Bernardo Bernardo WonBest Screenplay Ishmael Bernal WonBest Production Design Peque Gallaga 7 8 WonBest Director Ishmael Bernal NominatedBest Actress Cherie Gil NominatedRio Locsin NominatedBest Music Vanishing Tribe NominatedReferences Edit Eusebio Aaron Brennt October 14 2020 Watch these timeless Filipino movies at the 2020 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino GMA Network Retrieved July 7 2021 David Joel 2017 Manila by Night A Queer Film Classic Vancouver Arsenal Pulp Press pp 41 46 ISBN 978 1 55152 708 6 Seguerra Liza Dino August 9 2020 The vision for FDCP s Philippine Film Archive The Manila Times Retrieved July 7 2021 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino goes online Watch films help pandemic hit film industry Rappler October 3 2020 Retrieved July 7 2021 Manila by Night Time Out London CITY AFTER DARK MANILA BY NIGHT 1980 Rotten Tomatoes Paredes Andrew May 7 2020 The towering wondrous legacy of Peque Gallaga ABS CBN News and Current Affairs Retrieved July 7 2021 Yuson Alfred A May 18 2020 Farewell to Peque The Philippine Star Retrieved July 7 2021 External links EditCity After Dark at IMDb City After Dark at Rotten Tomatoes This article about a film made in the Philippines is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This 1980s drama film related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manila by Night amp oldid 1139664505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
