Kinatay
by Brillante Mendoza
Today Peping will happily marry the young mother of their newborn baby. For a poor police academy student, there is no question of turning down an opportunity to make money. Already accustomed to side profits from a smalltime drug ring, Peping naively accepts a well-paid job offer from a corrupt friend. Peping soon falls into an intense voyage into darkness as he experiences the kidnapping and torture of a beautiful prostitute. Horrified and helpless during the nightmarish all-night operation directed by a psychotic killer, Peping is forced to search within if he is a killer himself...
»Kinatay« is award-winning director Brillante Mendoza's seventh feature film. Mendoza made Filipino cinema history in 2008 when »Serbis« became his country's first film in the Cannes Film Festival official competition since 1984. Mendoza's first feature film »Masahista« (The Masseur) won the Golden Leopard video award at the 2005 Locarno Film Festival, as well as the Interfaith Award in Brisbane and the Audience Award in Turin. His subsequent films won further major international awards. »Manoro« (The Teacher) won the CinemAvvenire at the Torino Film Festival 2006 and Best Picture and Director awards at the Cinemanila 2006. »Kaleldo« (Summer Heat) won the Netpac Award in Jeonju 2007 and the Best Actress Award in Durban 2007. »Foster Child« won the Best Actress award in New Delhi 2007, Special Jury award in Kazakhstan 2007 and the Signis Award in Las Palmas 2008. »Tirador« (Slingshot) won the Special Jury award in Marrakech 2007 and the Caligari Award at Berlin 2008. It was also given the Best Film, Director and Netpac awards at Singapore 2008. Brillante Mendoza was born in San Fernando, Philippines. He studied fine arts and advertising at Manila's University of Santo Tomas. He started his career as a production designer in film, television and theatre. His production design was featured in acclaimed films such as »Takaw Tukso« (Flirting with Temptation, 1986), »Private Show« (1986) and »Olongapo, The Great American Dream« (1987). Brillante also became one of the most sought-after production designers for commercials. From 1990 to 2004, he designed for major companies such as Asia Brewery, Globe, Jollibee, McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, PLDT, San Miguel Brewery, Smart and Unilever.
2009 »Kinatay«
2008 »Serbis« (Service), »Tirador« (Slingshot)
2007 »Foster Child«
2006 »Manoro« (The Teacher), »Kaleldo« (Summer Heat)
2005 »Masahista« (The Masseur)
Coco Martin - Peping
Julio Diaz - Vic
Mercedes Cabral - Cecille
Maria Isabel Lopez - Madonna
John Regala - Sarge
Jhong Hilario - Abyong
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Screenplay: Armando Lao
Cinematography: Odyssey Flores
Art Directors: Harley Alcasid, Deans Habal
Production Design: Dante Mendoza
Original Music: Teresa Barrozo
Editor: Kats Serraon
Casting: Ed Instrella
Executive Producer: Didier Costet
Format: 35 mm / 24fps / 1:1.85 / Colour / Digital
Length: 110 min.
Original language: Tagalog
Original title: Kinatay