Tinikling ou 'La madonne et le dragon' (1990)

Exposé of two news photographers covering the People's Revolution in the Philippines.

Director:

Samuel Fuller

Writers:

Reza Degathi (story), Samuel Fuller (adaptation),

Stars:

Jennifer Beals, Luc Merenda, Patrick Bauchau

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Beals	...	Patty Meredith
Luc Merenda	...	Simon LeTerre
Patrick Bauchau	...	Pavel
Behn Cervantes	...	Mindanao
Pilar Pilapil	...	Mindanao's girl
Christa Lang	...	Mama
Reginald Singh	...	King
Alfredo De la Fuente	...	Vieil homme
Antony Tan	...	Soldat saoûl
Dodie Lacuna	...	Officier
Chabeng Contreras	...	Jelissa Rodriguez
Nanding Josef	...	Eduardo
Ray Ventura	...	Le prêtre
Ernie Zarate	...	Général
Samuel Fuller	...	Chef de bureau Newsweek

Storyline

Exposé of two news photographers covering the People's Revolution in the Philippines.

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Genres:

Adventure | Action

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1990 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Die Madonna und der Drache

Filming Locations:

Metro Manila, Luzon, Philippines

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Flach Film, TF1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Sam Fuller's last stand

Anything involving Samuel Fuller makes for great watching. This made for TV movie from 1990 is no exception. While it certainly is a minor work, it is still a worthwhile Fuller venture. Set in Manila, it would also prove to be Fuller's last film as a director. Although it was made for, and financed by, a French TV network, it looks like a straight cinema film, with good production values (but, it has to be said, Fuller was more than capable of making something cheap look great; most of his movies, now classics, were rather low-key affairs as far as money was concerned – this was a price for independence, and Fuller is a Godfather of sorts for independent film-making). In the mid-to-late 1980s, Fuller worked in France for the most part, where he had several projects made. So this was a logical continuation, as well as a last shot at a war picture, arguably Fuller's favorite field. It has all the trademark Fuller elements: a realistic, gritty approach to the story, tight efficient editing to propel characters and audience in the thick of the action, action-packed sequences with courageous choices to be made, journalist-reporters as main characters (one of them played by Jennifer Beals, speaking French here– this is a French-speaking film), impressive civil war scenes (as it should be). There's also Frenchman Luc Merenda, of many an Italian police flick, and Patrick Bauchau, seen in films by Eric Rohmer and Dario Argento and everything in between. Also this is a welcome look at a historical situation (Marcos guerrilla in the Philippines) rarely tackled in the movies. On the bad side, the music is awful, but that doesn't matter very much. To this date, it's not available in any format but has been posted in its entirety on Youtube in 2008 (on account of Jennifer Beals fandom!), which is nothing short of a miracle, especially since the quality is very acceptable. Samuel Fuller remains one of the best, and most endearing, master writer-directors of all time.