Kinatay (2009)
Año de lanzamiento: 2009
Nación: France, Philippines
Alternative Title: Execução, Екзекуцията, Kinatay - Massacro, キナタイ マニラ・アンダーグラウンド, Butchered
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Writer: Armando Lao
Producción & Género
Productor: Producer: Coco Martin, Didier Costet, Ferdinand Lapuz
Compañías: Centerstage Productions, Swift Productions
Género: Drama, Horror, Horror Film, Thriller
Budget: $800,000 (estimated)
Premios & Similares
Premios:
Similar:
Palabras clave
Palabras clave: corrupt cop, neorealism, news reporter, philippines, prostitute, rape, torture, urban setting, witness
Historia
Kinatay follows a young man named Peping who wants to marry his girlfriend but lacks the funds. Desperate, he takes on a job that promises $2,000. However, upon accepting the assignment, he realizes it involves killing a woman named Laida, who is beaten and left for dead by corrupt cops in Manila's grimy underbelly. Peping hesitates but ultimately fulfills his duty, filming Laida's torture and murder as evidence of her death. After completing the task, Peping attempts to lead a normal life with his girlfriend, but his actions haunt him.
Resumen
Kinatay is a grim psychological thriller focusing on police corruption in Manila. It follows Peping, a young criminology student who gets entangled in a high-stakes crime run by corrupt officers. He becomes a passive witness to the kidnapping, torture, murder, and dismemberment of a sex worker.
The Filipino-French neorealist thriller directed by Brillante Mendoza, set against Manila's urban decay. The film explores themes of corruption, poverty, and desperation, as seen through Peping's moral dilemma and eventual descent into crime. It won Mendoza the Best Director award at Cannes despite criticism for its extreme content. The movie is a stark portrayal of the Philippines' social issues, with violence and horror used to depict the country's harsh realities.
The film's violence is a central, controversial element. Rather than relying on graphic visuals, Mendoza uses a raw, documentary style, minimal light, and intense sound design. The most horrific acts happen largely off-screen or in near-darkness. This forces the viewer to use their imagination, making the psychological impact immense. The casual, routine nature of the violence committed by the officers serves as a harsh social critique of systemic moral decay and human depravity.
