Last June 12, Ramona Diaz released “A Thousand Cuts,” a documentary about Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s struggle for democracy, to the Filipino public for 24 hours. The film zeroed in on Ressa and other journalists reporting on President Duterte and his war on drugs. Carefully intersecting two opposing sides within Philippine politics, Diaz also exposed the self-aggrandizing behavior of our politicians.
The film opened our eyes to the reality of our dying democracy. But, as Ressa implied, the Duterte regime’s attack on the press is just one of a thousand cuts. If you missed “A Thousand Cuts” or if you just want to know more about the subject, here are some films that expose the Philippines’ insidious political and justice systems.
Give Up Tomorrow
“Give Up Tomorrow” follows the families involved in the murder of Cebu City’s Chiong sisters. The film exposes the country’s unjust legal system by showing corrupt and incompetent officials and police who randomly picked the alleged murderers from a list of juvenile kids without providing actual evidence.
Watch it on YouTube.
Motherland
“A Thousand Cuts” director Ramona Diaz takes viewers inside Fabella Hospital, also known as the country’s “baby factory,” where mothers of all ages share a small maternal bed to give birth. While the film highlights the resilience of the women, it exposes the conservative view of politicians on reproductive health in the Philippines.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
The Kingmaker
Before “A Thousand Cuts,” everyone was talking about this exposé on former first lady Imelda Marcos. The Visayan politician recounts her version of the Marcos era, saying that the Philippines benefited from it. Director Laura Greenfield juxtaposes this narrative with the heinous reality of the martial law era and its effects that can still be felt to this day.
2022 update: The documentary has been made free to view on YouTube in the Philippines
Call Her Ganda
Based on the story of the murder of trans woman Jennifer Laude and the political uproar that followed, filmmaker PJ Raval interviews and follows the women who led the case’s investigation—activist attorney Virgie Suarez, transgender journalist Meredith Talusan and Laude’s mother Julita Laude—tackling legal challenges but also bringing to light LGBT+ struggles and imperialism in the process.
Watch it on Amazon, iTunes or Google Play.
Forbidden Memory
Cinema One original “Forgotten Memory” studies the memory of people who witnessed the genocide around the events of the Malisbong Massacre of 1974. The massacre, which took place in the martial law era, was one of Marcos’ most horrific acts as a dictator. Director Teng Mangansakan III proves that Marcos was definitely no hero by focusing on firsthand narratives by the people affected.
Watch it on Amazon.
Header photo courtesy of Kushagra Kevat on Unsplash
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