Sa Kabila ng Lahat
Directed byLino Brocka
Written byRoy Iglesias
Produced byWilliam Leary
Starring
CinematographyClodualdo Austria Jr.
Edited byGeorge Jarlego
Music byJaime Fabregas
Production
company
Distributed byViva Films
Release date
  • May 15, 1991 (1991-05-15)
Running time
122 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Sa Kabila ng Lahat (lit. 'In Spite of Everything') is a 1991 Philippine political drama film directed by Lino Brocka. It stars Dina Bonnevie and Tonton Gutierrez. This is the last film made by Brocka before he was killed in a car accident.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Plot

Maia is the host of the investigative news magazine program Punto Blangko (Point Blank) that focuses on political issues, particularly corruption in the government. During the Philippine Television Awards, her show wins as Best Public Affairs Show while Maia wins as Best Newscaster. She along with her program's segment host and radio commentator Mike are on their way for their victory party when they come across a hostage taking where a Chinese businessman is being held by a notorious criminal named Van Turko. However, Van Turko kills the Chinese businessman after answering a phone call by another syndicate member named Daniel Fu. But, Boy Boga, the right hand man of Mayor Ventura Velasco comes and tells Van Turko to turn himself to the authorities and pledges to take care of everything. Mike is known as a critic of the mayor who was a former movie actor.

Maia, who also holds an executive post of the network, is offered by Ventura's wife Cresencia and school superintendent Primitivo Mundial for an airtime on their station, but they refuse as a documentary series of Mike is supposed to air. Ventura is also known for his corrupt practices as he favors his father-in-law's business to engage in government services, despite being a Born Again Christian. He is also known for his extramarital affairs, include one with Maia, who he also uses to further increase his popularity for reelection. Maia's close friend Lala tells her about some of the Boy Boga's crimes, making Daniel more furious. During Ventura's guesting on Maia's show, a clip of Boy Boga and his men beating an insane person during the hostage taking is shown. When Boy Boga is invited by Daniel, policemen who were with Boy arrest Lala, who seeks help from Maia, who in turn asks Ventura. Ventura orders the release of Lala, who decides to stay with Maia. Maia also discovers that Van Turko has a backer at the City Hall. When Boy Boga's men are about to make a transaction with another drug syndicate, they are killed by policemen headed by Major Blin. Boga blames Daniel for the incident. Lala steals Maia's jewelries and car. Mike is now working on a documentary entitled Lungsod ng Basag na Pangarap (City of Broken Dreams). One night, Ventura suffers a heart attack on Maia's condominium unit and is flown to the United States for an operation. Cresencia went into Maia's unit and discovers Ventura's affair with her, prompting her to attack Maia at a salon and call her a whore. With the help of Boy Boga, Van Turko escape, while his men beat up and kill Daniel with a grenade. A disoriented Lala goes to the top of a building trying to kill herself, but is dissuaded from doing so by Maia, who convinces her that Daniel's death was accidental and was perpetrated by rightist soldiers. Lala goes to Daniel's wake but is killed in an ambush by Van Turko.

When Maia and Ventura's affair emerges, she is removed from her job and is the target of a hit by Van Turko to be murdered. While Van Turko recovers after being shot during a robbery, he watches a news report saying that he has a backer at City Hall, who turns out to be Boy Boga. Mike's documentary is pulled out from airing after Primitivo lobbies to the station management. Van Turko asks Maia's help and goes to Mike. There, Van Turko confesses that he is part of the Hit Squad formed by Boy Boga for Mayor Velasco's re-election bid and they are involved in gun smuggling and drugs, as well as the killing of some of the Mayor's critics. Police arrive, making Van Turko furious, as Maia reveals that Boy Boga also controls the police. Maia, Mike and Van Turko escape with the Van Turko's recorded confession, but are blocked by Boy Boga, who shoots Mike as he shields Maia. Van Turko then shoots Boy Boga before his is shot by the latter's men. Mike tells Maia to keep the camera and the tape before dying. Mayor Velasco dies from complications of his operation, while Cresencia and Priming were charged of graft and corruption.

At the next Philippine Television Awards, Mike is posthumously awarded as the Best Television Journalist of the Year for his documentary series. Maia accepts the award on his behalf and announces that his documentary series is about to air, and acknowledges that Mike taught her about being brave and to be fearless in telling the truth.

Cast

Awards

The film was awarded Best Picture and Best Director by the Young Critics Circle and the Philippine Movie Press Club.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mata, Elvira (May 21, 1991). "A Profound Headache Follows". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. p. 15. Retrieved June 21, 2022 – via Google News.
  2. ↑ "Lino Brocka's pieces that made the society whole". GMA News. October 3, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  3. ↑ Hernando, Mario (1993). Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times. Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas. p. 199-202. ISBN 9789718546161. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ "The Second Circle Citations for Film". National Mid-week. Lagda Publications. 7: 29. 1992. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "The Illusions of a Cinematic President". Public Policy. University of the Philippines. 2 (4): 110-111. 1998. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ "The Nineties No. 165: Sa Kabila ng Lahat". Video 48. April 23, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ Sampúng Taóng Sine: 1990-1999. National Commission for Culture and the Arts. 2002. p. 10. ISBN 9789718140260. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Google Books.
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