Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim
| This Is My Country | |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Lino Brocka |
| Produced by | Véra Belmont |
| Written by | Jose F. Lacaba |
| Starring | Phillip Salvador |
| Cinematography | Conrado Baltazar |
| Edited by | Ike Jarlego Jr. |
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Release date
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Running time
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108 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
This Is My Country (Filipino: Bayan ko: Kapit sa patalim) is a 1984 Filipino drama film directed by Lino Brocka. The film was entered into the 1984 Cannes Film Festival. It was selected as the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 58th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Arturo (Phillip Salvador) also known as Turing together with his wife Luz Manalastas (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. Shortly, 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 into crime to acquire the money he needs.
The native name of the film "Bayan ko: Kapit sa patalim" was derived from Bayan Ko, a protest song 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).
The film included actual footage of demonstration which censors did not let the film to be screened in the Philippines. Director Lino Brocka appealed the Supreme Court 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.
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