''Condemned'', a 1984 Filipino

neo noir Neo-noir is a film genre that adapts the visual style and themes of 1940s and 1950s American film noir for contemporary audiences, often with more graphic depictions of violence and sexuality. During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the term ...

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

, depicts the cruelty of big-city life, with a focus on

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

. The plot centers on the corruption of society and abuses of power. The film was directed by

Mario O'Hara Mario Herrero O'Hara (April 20, 1946 – June 26, 2012) was a Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter known for his sense of realism often with dark but realistic social messages. Early life He was born in Zamboanga City on Ap ...

, and the screenplay was written by

Jose Javier Reyes Jose "Joey" Javier Reyes (born October 21, 1954) is a Filipino director, screenwriter, lyricist, and actor. He has won awards at the Gawad Urian, Metro Manila Film Festival and Filipino Star Awards for Movies for his films, which include ''Pa ...

and Frank Rivera. The film received an "A" review from the Film Ratings Board.

Plot

Yolly (

Nora Aunor Nora Cabaltera Villamayor (May 21, 1953 – April 16, 2025), known professionally as Nora Aunor (), was a Filipino actress, producer and singer. Known for her leading roles with patriotic, feminist and Political sociology, socio-political th ...

), a flower vendor, her brother Efren (

Dan Alvaro Dan Alvaro (born Rolando Galura; 1951) is a Filipino actor both in movies and television. His niece is actress Glaiza de Castro and his nephew is actor Alcris Galura. He is the father of actor Ram Alvaro. Career In 1984, Alvaro played as the ...

), a driver and hired gun for a ruthless gangster, and Connie (

Gloria Romero Gloria Anne Borrego Galla (December 16, 1933 – January 25, 2025), known professionally as Gloria Romero (), was an American-born Filipino actress. Regarded as the "Queen of Philippine Cinema", she appeared in over 250 motion pictures and t ...

) live a bleak existence in the underbelly of the fashionable tourist district of Manila. Escaping from a violent past, the siblings' world collides with Connie's gang.

Cast

as Yolly *

as Efren *

as Connie *

Gina Alajar Regina Liguid Alatiit (born June 28, 1959), professionally known as Gina Alajar (), is a Filipino film and television actress and director. One of the most awarded actresses in Philippine cinema, she has won the Philippine movie grand slam, r ...

as Mayette *

Rio Locsin Maria Theresa Rosario Garcia Nayve-Israel (born October 3, 1961), known professionally as Rio Locsin, is a Filipino actress. Known primarily for her roles in films with underlying social themes, she began her career playing daring characters a ...

as Lorraine *

Ricky Davao Frederick Charles Abiera Davao (May 30, 1961 – May 1, 2025) was a Filipino actor and television director. Career Davao began his career in the entertainment industry in 1978 as a dancer for the Vicor Crowd group. Later in the year, he had h ...

as Joey *

Sonny Parsons Parsons Agliam Nabiula Jr. (August 22, 1958 – May 10, 2020), known professionally as Sonny Parsons, was a Filipino actor, singer, director, and politician who was a member of Hagibis, an all-male sing-and-dance group active in the late 1970s ...

as Elmo *Leni Santos as Nona *Connie Angeles as Cita *Toby Alejar as Dennis *

Alicia Alonzo Germelina Viana Hernandez (born June 1, 1946), better known by her stage name Alicia Alonzo, is a Filipino actress in movies and television in the Philippines. She is the sister of action star Anthony Alonzo. Career She was a flight attendant ...

as Yolly's Mother *

Romnick Sarmenta Romeo Nicolas Sarmenta Tejedor (born April 28, 1972), known professionally as Romnick Sarmenta, is a Filipino actor, film producer and professor. Noted for his performances in a range of genres across film and television, he began his career a ...

as Young Efren

Critical reception

*"Condemned is a rich brew of sudden violence, baroque cruelty, and sardonic dark humor." - Noel Vera, film critic

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, tt0125044, Condemned Philippine black-and-white films 1984 films Filipino-language films Philippine crime drama films Philippine neo-noir films Films directed by Mario O'Hara Films with screenplays by Jose Javier Reyes Films with screenplays by Mario O'Hara Films produced by Nora Aunor