Júlio Madiaga, a 'provinciano', arrives in Manila to search for Ligaya, his loved one.
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Title: Manila in the Claws of Light (1975)
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8 wins & 2 nominations.
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Tinimbang ka ngunit kulang
(1974)
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Director:
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Lilia Dizon,
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Signed: Lino Brocka
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Hilda Koronel | ... | Ligaya Paraiso | |
| Bembol Roco | ... | Julio Madiaga (as Rafael Roco Jr.) | |
 |
Lou Salvador Jr. | ... | Atong |
| Joonee Gamboa | ... | Omeng | |
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Pio De Castro III | ... | Imo |
|
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Danilo Posadas | ... | Benny |
|
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Joe Jardi | ... | Frank (as Joseph Jardinazo) |
| Spanky Manikan | ... | Gido | |
|
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Edipolo Erosido | ... | Eddie |
|
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Pancho Pelagio | ... | Mr. Balajadia |
|
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Purita Yap | ... | Nanay |
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Josephine Gutierrez | ... | Kapatid ni Ligaya |
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Gina Zegui | ... | Kapatid ni Ligaya |
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Ronnie Magalong | ... | Kapatid ni Ligaya |
|
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Anna Marie Nicolas | ... | Batang Ligaya |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
Julio Madiaga, a simple fisherman from the province, travels to Manila to find Ligaya, the woman he loves, after she went away with a mysterious woman promising a better future in the City. When he arrives, he becomes immersed in the city lifestyle and gets involved with its inhabitants experiencing extreme poverty, hard luck, and the overbearing need to grind for daily sustention. While Julio relentlessly searches for Ligaya, the city changes him little by little, becoming like an animal doomed to live only for survival in a wild jungle with no way out. Written by Terrence16
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Details
Country:
PhilippinesRelease Date:
16 July 1975 (Philippines) See more »Also Known As:
Manila in the Claws of Light See more »Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Misericordia Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila which is featured in the movie as the place where Julio patiently waits for Ligaya, is now called Don Tomas Mapúa Street. See more »Crazy Credits
The end credits are shown in black text over plain white background. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Lino Brocka's masterful study of a man's loss of innocence is a centerpiece of great Filipino cinema. The tale of young innocents traveling to the infamous city of Manila, and losing their way, has been told countless times, but "Manila: In the Claws of Neon" was the first, and this unflinching look at urban decay must have shocked people at the time. Bembol Roco is heartbreaking in his role as the small-town laborer who travels to Manila in search of his beautiful girlfriend, who has vanished without a word. With his baby face and puppy dog eyes, he conveys the image of the ultimate naive youth, and Hilda Koronel possesses the same pure quality, as his lost love, Ligaya.
Once in the clutches of the decadent metropolis, Julio is forced to either let go of his innocence, or be swallowed up by the ruthless, hardened characters around him. This same theme returns in Brocka's equally powerful "Insiyag." 'Maynila' is more than a study of lost innocence, of course. It is also an honest look at third World poverty, and the desperation that causes people to do things that they might not do otherwise, in order to survive. One of the film's most harrowing scenes features a scared and sickened Julio, lured into working at a sleazy male whorehouse. The character is obviously not homosexual, and being forced into having sex with men is the beginning of his own personal demise. The bloody, shocking climax of this film is one of the most memorable disturbing set pieces in film, and was borrowed from heavily, by Martin Scorsese a year later for his classic "Taxi Driver." Viewed back to back it becomes evident as the scenes in the hallway of the dark apartment tenement are virtually identical. Brocka's vision came first, too bad so few people are not aware of this beautiful film. Thought to be lost, due to improper storage of the film, this has surfaced on the internet, which is where i was able to finally see it. This one, and some other Filipino films are long overdue for restored DVD releases. If you can find it, see it.