K is for Kidlat Tahimik, A-Z of Filipino Cultural Exports
B: 1942 / Dubbed by fellow filmmakers and critics as the “Father of Philippine Independent Cinema”, the films of Kidlat Tahimik are a critique on neocolonialism, primarily influenced by the 1960’s Argentinian manifesto of the ‘Third Cinema’.
Tahimik’s work has been received positively worldwide, with his latest film ‘Balikbayan #1 Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III’, awarded the Caligari Prize at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival. This is not the first time Tahimik’s work has been celebrated in Berlin. In 1977 he won the critics over with ‘Perfumed Nightmare’, which was awarded the Fipresci Prize.
As Balikbayan was only released in February of this year, there are currently no trailers available to view online… perhaps the Filipino Embassy in London could arrange for a screening, as the work is a call to a new movement toward making films with stories that are truly Filipino. Stand up for a united third world revolution.
Third Cinema Manifesto can be read here.
A review on Balikbayan can be read here.
Kidlat Tahimik Filmography includes:
- Mababangong bangungot [“Perfumed Nightmare”] (1977)
- Turumba (1981)
- Sinong lumikha ng yoyo? Sinong lumikha ng moon buggy? (1982)
- Orbit 50: Letters to My 3 Sons (1992)
- Why is Yellow Middle of Rainbow? (1994, also known as I am Furious Yellow)
- Japanese Summers of a Filipino Fundoshi (1996)
- Our Film – Grimage to Guimaras (2006)
- BUBONG! (Roofs of the World! UNITE!) (2006)
- Memories of Overdevelopment 1980–2010 (1980–2010)
- Balikbayan #1 Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III (2015)
#OFW more than a country of good looking, half-wit, opportunistic terrorists
