KINATAY

Peping is studying criminology in Manila and wants to marry his girlfriend Cecille, who is also a student. To pay for it, he earns money on the side as an errand boy for a syndicate, collecting protection money from businessmen – his old schoolfriend Abyong got him the job. When Abyong offers him a “special project” that pays more than usual, Peping agrees. The drive leads out into the night, and what began as an errand turns into the abduction of a woman (Maria Isabel Lopez). Peping witnesses her being beaten and realises there is no getting out of this car. “Kinatay” (Philippines 2009) by Brillante Mendoza follows him through this one night.

The title means “slaughtered”. Mendoza paints a picture of drug-related violence in present-day Manila that glosses over nothing and spares the viewer nothing. At Cannes, he was awarded Best Director for it in 2009 – the first Filipino to win in this category, against competitors such as Quentin Tarantino and Ang Lee. “Kinatay” was shown at Around the World in 14 Films in Berlin in 2009, on 4 December in the late screening.

Shown at the 2009 edition of Around the World in 14 Films.

All films 2009 · Film Archive