Episode Details

(2001/Philippines, 102 min., color, drama, in Tagalog with English subtitles.) Dir.: Joel Lamangan. Cast: Assunta de Rossi, Jay Manalo, Wendell Ramos. A young woman in desperate circumstances gives up her street hustler boyfriend in favor of Uno, an ostensibly liberal and caring substitute, who turns out to have a cruel agenda of his own. An indictment of the corruption of the political elite in the Philippines and their exploitation of the poor. Discussion guest: La Frances Hui, Asia Society.

Host, Jerry Carlson, professor of film studies at The City College of the City University of New York, discusses Filipino film "Wretched Lives" with La Frances Hui, film curator of Asia Society New York. Hui and Carlson examine the political messages presented by "Wretched Lives." They also discuss how the film achieves its political objectives. Hui describes how the film's director, Joel Lamangan, utilizes cinematic tools to help tell the story of Vanessa, the film's protagonist.

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