Archives - Program 2020

By Alyx Ayn Arumpac

In the Philippines, "Aswang" refers to witches, vampires and ghosts. Since the election of Duterte, these evil creatures have been haunting poorly-lit streets, crushed by damp heat, and form the filmmaker's starting point. From hereon in, she weaves a powerful web of cinematographic references to tell the tale of the massive execution machine in operation. Step by step, by successive brushstrokes, she paints a picture of characters sucked into the tragedy: a journalist, a forensic pathologist, a missionary and a homeless child will guide her into the underworld. This debut film, awarded at the IDFA, is a little masterpiece.

• Section Competition - Creative documentary

Asia