The restored version of the film “Kisapmata” by director Mike de Leon will have its online premiere on December 19, 2020, Saturday. Viewers worldwide can access and watch it from 7 am to 11 pm (Philippine time) over the Vimeo video platform. The link to the restored film will be posted on the Casa Grande Vintage Filipino Cinema Facebook page.
“Kisapmata”—which stars Charito Solis, Jay Ilagan, Charo Santos, Ruben Rustia and Vic Silayan—is a psychological drama about how Dadong, a domineering ex-police officer who loses control when his daughter Mila and son-in-law Noel defy his rules and attempt to break free from the oppressive home. The story is inspired by “The House on Zapote Street,” a true crime report by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin.
“Kisapmanta” was shown locally at the 1981 Metro Manila Film Festival where it won 10 awards, namely Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor for Vic Silayan; Best Supporting Actress for Charito Solis; Best Supporting Actor for Jay Ilagan; Best Story and Screenplay for Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., Racquel Villavicencio, and Mike de Leon; Best Editing for Jess Navarro; Best Production Design for Cesar Hernando; and Best Sound Engineering for Ramon Reyes. In 1982, the film was screened at the Director’s Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival.
“Kisapmata” is hailed by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino as one of the Best Films of the Decade.
The restoration was done at L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy, and Wildsound Studios in Manila. It was co-funded by UnionBank and Mike De Leon. The restored version had its theatrical premiere last August at Il Cinema Ritrovato (Rediscovered Cinema) in Bologna, Italy.
L’Immagine Ritrovata is the same film lab that restored de Leon’s “Batch ’81,” Lamberto Avellana’s “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipin,” and Lino Brocka’s “Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag.”
To commemorate the return of this classic film, a new poster was unveiled featuring the tension-filled “pamamanhikan” dinner scene.
The restoration is dedicated to the memory of the cast members Charito Solis, Jay Ilagan, Ruben Rustia, and Vic Silayan, and production designer Cesar Hernando.
For details and updates, like and follow the Casa Grande Vintage Filipino Cinema Facebook page.
