''Respeto'' (''Respect'') is a 2017 Philippine

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is film production, produced outside the Major film studios, major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independ ...

starring Filipino hip hop artist Abra, and directed by Alberto "Treb" Monteras II. It was co-written by Monteras and screenwriter Njel de Mesa, who drew inspiration from the works of veteran poets such as Vim Nadera and National Artists

Bienvenido Lumbera Bienvenido L. Lumbera (April 11, 1932 – September 28, 2021) was a Filipino poet, critic and dramatist. Lumbera is known for his nationalist writing and for his leading role in the Filipinization movement in Philippine literature in the 1960s, ...

and

Virgilio Almario Virgilio Senadren Almario (born March 9, 1944), better known by his pen name Rio Alma, is a Filipino author, poet, critic, translator, editor, teacher, and cultural manager. He is a National Artist of the Philippines. He formerly served as the c ...

. The final film features a guest cameo appearance by poet Vim Nadera. Aside from Abra and de la Paz, the film cats includes Chai Fonacier, Ybes Bagadiong, Brian Arda, Thea Yrastorza, Kate Alejandrino, Nor Domingo and Filipino rapper Loonie.

Plot

Hendrix is a poor aspiring rapper who wants to make a name for himself in the underground rap battle scene and gain respect in the community. After attempting to rob a second-hand bookstore in the neighborhood, he is discovered by the owner, Doc, an old poet with a haunted past as a dissident.

Cast

* Abra as Hendrix *Dido de la Paz as Fortunato "Doc" Reyes *Loonie as Breezy G *

Chai Fonacier Chai Fonacier (born September 27, 1986) is a Filipino actress, singer and songwriter. Career Music Fonancier was a contestant of the first season of '' Pinoy Dream Academy''. She was also a part of the defunct Cebu-based trip hop trio ''W ...

as Betchai *Ybes Bagadiong as Payaso *Brian Arda as Mando *Thea Yrastorza as Connie *Kate Alejandrino as Candy *Nor Domingo as Fuentes

Reception

It has received critical acclaim for its powerful use of the Filipino poetry in the form of

Pinoy hip hop Pinoy hip hop or Filipino hip-hop (also known as Pinoy rap) is a style of hip hop music performed by musicians of Filipino descent, especially Filipino-Americans. The Philippines is known for having the first hip hop music scene in Asia sin ...

rap battles and

Balagtasan ''Balagtasan'' is a Filipino form of debate done in verse. Derived from the name of Francisco Balagtas also known as the Prince of Balagtasan, this art presents a type of literature in which thoughts or reasoning are expressed through speech. ...

poetry, the performance of veteran theater actor Dido de la Paz, and what film critic Philbert Dy calls its "''rather powerful examination of a generational relationship with government-backed violence.''"

Awards and nominations

The film won the awards for best feature-length film, Best Supporting Actor (Dido de la Paz), Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound at the

2017 Cinemalaya Film Festival The 13th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival was held from August 4–13, 2017 in Metro Manila, Philippines. A total of nine full-length features and twelve short films competed. The festival was opened by Mikhail Red's ''Birdshot'' and was close ...

References

External links