Metro Manila (film)
| 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 |
| Edited by | Richard Mettler |
Production company |
Chocolate Frog Films |
| Distributed by |
Independent (UK) Captive (Philippines) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country |
United Kingdom Philippines |
| Language | Tagalog (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
- Leon Miguel as White-eyed Man
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 becomes 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.
Metro Manila was re-released with special screenings to raise money for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda that had hit the Philippines and killed close to 6000 people. Its British director, Sean Ellis said: "The people of the Philippines were tremendously supportive during the making of Metro Manila, and it's only right that we should now use the film to raise money to help the victims of this terrible disaster."
Critical reception
Rotten Tomatoes lists a rating of 93% based on 29 reviews as of October 2014.[4]
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. ...”[5]
Accolades
At the 2013 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Metro Manila was nominated in five categories and won awards for Achievement in Production, Best Director and Best British independent film.[6]
| List of Accolades | ||
|---|---|---|
| Award / Film Festival | Category | Result |
| British Academy Film Awards[7] | Best Film Not in the English Language | Nominated |
| 2013 Sundance Film Festival[8] | Audience Award: World Dramatic | Won |
| Grand Jury Prize: World Dramatic | Nominated | |
| Filmfest Hamburg[9] | Hamburg Film Critic Award | Won |
| Polar Festival de Cognac[10] | Grand Jury Prize | Won |
| Seminci[11] | Espiga de Oro: Gold Spike | Nominated |
| Espiga de Plata: Silver Spike | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Nominated | |
| Best Script | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Nominated | |
| Amazonas Film Festival[12] | 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[13] | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated |
| World Soundtrack Awards[14] | Public Choice Award | Nominated |
See also
- List of submissions to the 86th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of British submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ↑ "RSA Films". RSA Films.
- ↑ "Oscars: U.K. Picks 'Metro Manila' as Foreign Language Nomination". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ↑ "Metro Manila". Sundance Organization. 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
- ↑ "Metro Manila - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
- ↑ "Hamburg Film Critic Award". Filmfest Hamburg. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
- ↑ {cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/dec/08/metro-manila-british-independent-film-awards|title=Metro Manila named British independent film of the year|publisher=The Guardian|date=08-12-2013|accessdate=2014-09-21}
- ↑ "Nominations Announced for the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2014". British Academy Film Awards. January 8, 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ↑ "Sundance Festival Award Winners". Sundance Film Festival. 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2-09-2014. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Hamburg Film Critic Award". Filmfest Hamburg. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
- ↑ "COMPETITION CINEMA". Festival Polar Cognac. 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
- ↑ "Miniminci back in the 59th edition of the Film Week movies". Seminci cine De Author. 01-07-2014. Retrieved 2014-09-21. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Amazon Film Festival". Amazon Film Festival. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
- ↑ Satellite Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- ↑ "World Soundtrack Awards".
External links
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