Metro Manila (film)

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Metro Manila

Directed by	Sean Ellis
Produced by	Mathilde Charpentier Sean Ellis
Written by	Sean Ellis Frank E. Flowers
Starring	Jake Macapagal Althea Vega John Arcilla
Music by	Robin Foster
Cinematography	Sean Ellis
Editing by	Richard Mettler
Studio	Chocolate Frog Films
Distributed by	Independent (UK) Haute et Court (France) Captive (Philippines) Festival (Spain)
Release dates	January 20, 2013 (2013-01-20) (Sundance) September 20, 2013 (2013-09-20) (United Kingdom) October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09) (Philippines)
Running time	115 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	Filipino

Metro Manila is 2013 British-Filipino independently produced crime drama film directed by Sean Ellis. Ellis also co-produced and co-wrote the film.^[1] The film was selected as the British entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards,^[2] but it was not nominated.

Cast

Jake Macapagal as Oscar Ramirez
Althea Vega as Mai Ramirez
John Arcilla as Ong

Plot

Looking for a better life in Metro Manila, Oscar Ramirez and his family escape their impoverished lives among the rice fields north of the Philippines. Upon arriving, they fall victim to the manipulative ways of city hucksters. Oscar lands a job in an armored truck company. He befriends his senior officer, Ong, who takes Oscar under his wing.

Soon, it was apparent that Ong has been waiting for someone like Oscar for a long time.

Production

The film was shot on location in the Philippines in 2011 with a Filipino cast and crew members. The Filipino language is used throughout the film.

Release

Metro Manila had its International premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival^[3] on 20 January 2013. It was also released on 17 July 2013 in France, 28 August 2013 in Belgium, 29 August 2013 in the Netherlands, and 20 September 2013 in the UK.

Metro Manila had its Philippine premiere on 9 October 2013.

Critical Reception

Rotten Tomatoes lists a rating of 100% based on 22 reviews as of December 2013.

After winning the Hamburg Film Critic Award at the 2013 Filmfest Hamburg, the jury said of the film: “The themes of our times are what define this film: rural exodus and impoverishment, exploitation and poverty in the Moloch of overcrowded metropolises. Director Sean Ellis filmed this story in a language that is foreign to him - and yet still always manages to hit the right tone. He is emotional, yet never impassioned; poetic, yet never tawdry; raw without any hint of cynicism. A social drama that becomes a thriller, breathless and unstoppable. “Metro Manila” deserves to be seen by many. This film belongs in the cinema. ...”^[4]

Accolades

List of Accolades
Award / Film Festival	Category	Result
British Academy Film Awards^[5]	Best Film Not in the English Language	Nominated
2013 Sundance Film Festival^[6]	Audience Award: World Dramatic	Won
2013 Sundance Film Festival^[6]	Grand Jury Prize: World Dramatic	Nominated
Filmfest Hamburg^[7]	Hamburg Film Critic Award	Won
Polar Festival de Cognac^[8]	Grand Jury Prize	Won
Seminci^[9]	Espiga de Oro: Gold Spike	Nominated
	Espiga de Plata: Silver Spike	Nominated
	Best Director	Nominated
	Best Script	Nominated
	Best Cinematography	Nominated
Amazonas Film Festival^[10]	Best Director	Won
	Best Script	Won
	Audience Award	Won
British Independent Film Awards	Best British Independent Film	Won
	Best Director	Won
	Best Supporting Actor - John Arcillia	Nominated
	Most Promising Newcomer - Jake Macapagal	Nominated
	Achievement in Production	Won
Satellite Award^[11]	Best Foreign Language Film	Nominated

References

External links

Metro Manila at the Internet Movie Database

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