''This Is My Country'' ( fil, Bayan ko: Kapit sa patalim) is a 1984 Filipino

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

that is directed by

Lino Brocka Catalino Ortiz Brocka (April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991) was a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema. He co-founded the organization Concerned Ar ...

. The film was a part of the main competition at the

1984 Cannes Film Festival The 37th Cannes Film Festival was held from 11 to 23 May 1984. The Palme d'Or went to the '' Paris, Texas'' by Wim Wenders. The festival opened with '' Fort Saganne'', directed by Alain Corneau and closed with '' The Bounty'', directed by Roger ...

. It was selected as the Philippine entry for the

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the 58th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Plot

Arturo "Turing" Manalastas (

Phillip Salvador Phillip Mikael "Ipe" Reyes Salvador (born Felipe Reyes Salvador; August 22, 1953) is a three-time FAMAS award-winning Filipino film and television actor. Acting career Salvador made his film debut in 1971 with ''Adios Mi Amor''. He toiled in ...

) together with his wife, Luz ( Gina Alajar), works in a printing press. Turing was later forced to ask for a raise from his boss after his wife became pregnant. Turing's boss asked him to sign a waiver that he is not a member of any

labor union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (s ...

. Shortly after, his friends invited him to be part of a labor union that they are planning to form but Turing has no option but to refuse due to his waiver. Turing was badly treated and was called a traitor after refusing to join. The printing press later closed and Luz is unable to get discharged from the hospital where she is confined due to pending fees. Turing needs money to pay the hospital bill so Luz can finally get out from the hospital and turns to crime to acquire the money he needs.

Cast

as Arturo "Turing" Manalastas * Gina Alajar as Luz Manalastas *

Carmi Martin Carmita Martin also known as Carmi Martin (born 9 August 1963) is a Filipina actress, model, and comedian. Career She first appeared in ''Dolphy's Angels'' with Liz Alindogan, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Yehlen Catral and the late comedy king Dolph ...

as Carla *

Claudia Zobel Thelma Cabras Maloloy-on (February 27, 1964 – February 10, 1984), better known by her stage name Claudia Zobel, was a Filipino actress. Maloloy-on was killed in a car accident on February 10, 1984 in Makati, Philippines, seventeen days ...

as Dhalie *

Raoul Aragon Raoul Aragon was a former Filipino actor in drama and action movies in the Philippines. Aragon was nominated in Gawad Urian Award 1980 as Best Actor in the movie ''Ina ka ng Anak Mo'' and he won the Best Actor award in Metro Manila Film Festival 1 ...

as Lando * Paquito Diaz as Hugo *

Rez Cortez Res Septimo Cortez (born January 4, 1956), better known as Rez Cortez, is a Filipino film and television actor and assistant director. Acting career Cortez's film career began in 1974, when he was introduced in ''Daigdig ng Sindak at Lagim''. ...

as Boy Echas * Lorli Villanueva as Mrs. Lim * Ariosto Reyes Jr. as Willie *

Mona Lisa The ''Mona Lisa'' ( ; it, Gioconda or ; french: Joconde ) is a half-length portrait painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best kno ...

Lucita Soriano Lucita Soriano (born Lucita Soriano Adriano; March 22, 1941 – July 8, 2015) was a Filipino actress, who appeared in more than 215 movies and television shows. She was runner-up in the Miss Philippine Press Photography (PPP) 1964 beauty pagea ...

* Venchito Galvez * Bey Vito * Nomer Son as Mr. Lim * Joe Taruc as Himself

Naming

The native name of the film ''"Bayan ko: Kapit sa patalim"'' was derived from ''

Bayan Ko "Bayan Ko" (usually translated as "My Country"; es, Nuestra patria, lit=Our Fatherland) is one of the most recognizable patriotic songs of the Philippines. It was written in Spanish by the Revolutionary general José Alejandrino in light of the ...

'', a

protest song A protest song is a song that is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of ''topical'' songs (or songs connected to current events). It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre. Among social mov ...

and ''"Kapit sa Patalim"'' (Gripping unto a Blade) came from the Filipino saying ''"Ang taong nagigipit, kahit sa patalim kumakapit"'' (A desperate person will even grip unto a blade).

Release

The film included actual footage of demonstration which censors did not let the film to be screened in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. Director Lino Brocka appealed the

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

to let the film be screened in the country. After about a year after it screening at the Cannes Film Festival, it was screened in the Philippines in November 1985.

References

External links