History of Philippine Cinema

History of Philippine Cinema

Philippine Films after Marcos

The Golden Age of Philippine Films

Introduction

• It can be justified that immediately after Marcos escaped to Hawaii, films portraying the Philippine setting have had a serious bias against the former dictator. And even while he was in power, the militancy of filmmakers opposing the Martial Law government especially after the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983, accounts for the defiant stance of a number of films made in the closing years of the Marcos rule.

• Finally, by the 1930s, a few film artists and producers dared to stray from the guidelines and commented on sociopolitical issues, using contemporary or historical matter.

• Julian Manansala - “Father of the Nationalistic Film”

Contemporary Philippine Film

• The 1950s were considered a time of “rebuilding and growth”. But remnants from the preceding decade of the 40s remained in the form of war-induced reality. This is seen is Lamberto Avellana’s Anak Dalita (The Ruins, 1956), the stark tragedy of post-WWII survival set in Intramuros.

• Critics now clarify that the 50s may be considered one “Golden Age” for the Filipino film not because film content had improved but because cinematic techniques achieved an artistic breakthrough in that decade.

• In 1952, the FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) Awards were handed out.

• The youngest of Philippine arts, film has evolved to become the most popular of all the art forms.

• Introduced only in 1897, films have ranged from silent movies to talkies; black and white to color.

• Despite our completion of 100 years of cinema in the Philippines, the same problems plague us now just as it had when film was still a relatively new art form. The phrase “poorly made” is fitting to describe the quality of films being churned out by the film industry year by year. There have been few exceptions to the rule.

• Presently, films are primarily made for profit, lacking any qualities to redeem itself. Studies show that Hollywood films, with its high technology and subject matter, are being preferred over local films.

• Genres that have been present for the past few decades are being recycled over and over again with the same stories. The teen love teams of the fan movie are still present with incarnations of love teams of yesteryears.

• Manansala's film entitled "Patria Amore" (Beloved Country) was almost suppressed because of it's anti-Spanish sentiments.

1940's

1950's - 1970's

1930's

1980's - Present

1890's

The Decline of Philippine Films

Early Philippine Films

Wartime Films and the Effect on Philippine Films

• In the 1960s, the foreign films that were raking in a lot of income were action pictures sensationalizing violence and soft core sex films hitherto banned from Philippine theater screens, Italian “spaghetti” Westerns, American James Bond-type thrillers, Chinese/Japanese martial arts films and European sex melodramas.

• The decade also saw the emergence of the youth revolt best represented by the Beatles and the rock and roll revolution. They embodied the wanting to rebel against adult institutions and establishments. Certain new film genres were conceived just to cater to this “revolt”.

Films During Martial Law

• The Japanese Occupation introduced a new player to the film industry – the Japanese; and a new role for film – propaganda

• This period turned out to be quite beneficial to the theater industry. Live theater began to flourish again as movie stars, directors and technicians returned to the stage. Many found it as a way to keep them from being forgotten and at the same time a way to earn a living.

• Movies such as Garrison 13 (1946), Dugo ng Bayan (The Country’s Blood, 1946), Walang Kamatayan (Deathless, 1946), and Guerilyera (1946) , told the people the stories they wanted to hear: the heroes and the villains of the war.

• Filipinos started making movies in 1919. However, it would be important to know that the film industry in the Philippines began through the initiative of foreign entrepreneurs.

• Jose Nepumuceno - "Father of Philippine Movies"

- He was credited as the first Filipino to make a film.

- Nepumuceno’s first film was based on a highly-acclaimed musical play of that day, Dalagang Bukid (Country Maiden) by Hemogenes Ilagan and Leon Ignacio.

• In the 60s, the youth clamored for change in the status quo. Being in power, Ferdinand Marcos answered the youth by placing the nation under martial rule.

• Film was a key component of a society wracked with contradictions within the ruling class and between the sociopolitical elite and the masses.

• Another welcomed result that came from martial rule was the requirement of a script prior to filming. In doing so, talents in literature found their way into film making and continue to do so now.