#177 Kisapmata

Stills from the film Kisapmata (1981)

Kisapmata (Blink of an Eye) is a 1981 Filipino drama film directed by Mike De Leon. Often listed among the 10 best films in Philippine cinema, the film deals with strong social themes such as incest, murder, suicide and parricide and was considered a breakthrough, iconic film in terms of its sensitive handling of taboo topics.

Despite the film’s bleak vision, Kisapmata was unanimously praised by both Philippine and international critics with its fine scenario, cinematography, acting, soundtrack and editing. In the same year, the film practically garnered major awards in the annual Philippine cinema festival, the Gawad Urian Awards, a respected award-giving body mainly composed of film critics and professionals. Aside from the eight Gawan Urian Awards, the film also received one FAMAS (Philippine equivalent of the Academy Awards) award nomination.

With a script written by De Leon and Clodualdo Del Mundo, the film starred some of the veteran and finest actors in Philippine cinema such as Vic Silayan, Charito Solis, Charo Santos and Jay Ilagan. Silayan, who played the role of the tyrannical father, particularly gave one of  the finest performances by a Filipino actor, a role that he would be remembered for in later years.

Kisapmata was also presented in Cannes in 1982 at the exclusive Director’s Fortnight and was lauded by French critics as one of the most impressive and psychologically incisive films made on the theme of incest.

Mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino!