Artists' Television Access

Ora Pro Nobis (Fight For Us)

Thursday, December 11, 2003, 8:00 pm

ANSWER Film Series

Lino Brocka’s Fight For Us (Ora Pro Nobis) is an angry film, rooted in the
broken promises of the Aquino era, this will probably never play in
downtown Manila. The main character, former priest and ex-political
prisoner Jimmy Cordero (played by Philip Salvador), sets out to investigate
reports of human-rights abuses by anti-communist citizens committees. He
gradually discovers that the complicity between the army and groups of
vigilantes that existed in the days of the Marcos dictatorship is still
very much intact.
This lacks the shades of grey typical of the European political cinema –
but perhaps with good reason, since the events described are all too real.
Screenwriter Jose Lacaba based his story on actual events documented in a
1988 Amnesty International report. And Brocka captures the interplay
between public outrage and private fears as characters are forced into
ever-tighter corners by a wave of officially sanctioned violence.
This screening will include a report on the ongoing struggle in the
Philipines by representatives from BAYAN and ILPS (International League of
People’s Struggle).

Philippines|1989|Video|Documentary|1hr 32mins
Tagalog with English subtitles

Chosen as One of the Best Films of the 1980s, Manunuri ng Pelikulang
Pilipino; Exhibition Film, Director’s Fortnight, 1989 Cannes International
Film Festival (France).
Directed by Lino Brocka