| This Is My Country | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lino Brocka |
| Written by | Jose F. Lacaba |
| Based on |
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| Produced by | Véra Belmont |
| Starring | Phillip Salvador |
| Cinematography | Conrado Baltazar |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Jess Santiago |
Production companies |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 108 minutes |
| Countries | Philippines France |
| Language | Filipino |
This Is My Country (Filipino:Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim) is a 1984 Philippinedrama film directed byLino Brocka from a story and screenplay written byJose F. Lacaba. The film was a part of the main competition at the1984 Cannes Film Festival.[1] It was selected as the Philippine entry for theBest Foreign Language Film at the58th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[2]
The film was released in the Philippines on November 6, 1985, and performed poorly at the box office.
Arturo "Turing" Manalastas (Phillip Salvador) together with his wife, Luz (Gina Alajar), works in a printing press. Turing is forced to ask for a raise from his boss after his wife becomes pregnant. Turing's boss asks him to sign a waiver that he is not a member of anylabor union. Shortly after, his friends invite 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 is badly treated and is called a traitor after refusing to join. The printing press later closes 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 of the hospital and turns to crime to acquire the money he needs.[3]
French filmmakerPierre Rissient supervised the film's sound design.[4]
The native name of the film, "Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim" was derived from "Bayan Ko", aprotest song and "Kapit sa Patalim" (Gripping onto a Blade) came from the Filipino saying "Ang taong nagigipit, kahit sa patalim kumakapit" (A desperate person will even grip onto a blade).[3]
The film included actual footage of demonstrations whichcensors used as the reason to prevent the film being screened in thePhilippines. Director Lino Brocka appealed theSupreme Court to let the film be screened in the country. A year after its screening at the Cannes Film Festival, it was allowed to be screened in the Philippines on November 6, 1985 after it was given an R rating by the newly createdMovie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB),[3] and it performed poorly at the box office.[5]
The film was restored in 2020 by Le Chat Qui Fume from the original 35mm camera negatives in 4K resolution.[6] The restored film was premiered on the Cannes Classic section during the2020 Cannes Film Festival.[7] It was then released onBlu-ray andUHD Blu-ray in 2021.[8]
| Group | Category | Name | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gawad Urian Award[4] | Best Film | This Is My Country | Won |
| Best Director | Lino Brocka | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Jose "Pete" Lacaba | Won | |
| Best Actor | Phillip Salvador | Won | |
| Best Actress | Gina Alajar | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Venchito Galvez | Nominated | |
| Ariosto Reyes Jr. | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Mona Lisa | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Conrado Baltazar | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Ike Jarlego Jr. | Nominated | |
| Best Production Design | Joey Luna | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Supervision | Pierre Rissient | Nominated | |
| Catholic Mass Media Award | Best Actor | Phillip Salvador[9] | Won |