Blackout
credits:
Director: Ato BautistaWriter: Shugo Praico
Cast: Robin Padilla, Iza Calzado, John Michael Reyes
North American Premiere
Philippines 2007 | 85 mins | 35mm | Tagalog w/E.S.
Subtly hypnotizing and boldly told, Ato Bautista’s savvy second feature film reinvigorates the Filipino thriller. Gil (Robin Padilla), a lowly apartment landlord, suffers frequent blackouts due to his heavy drinking. His inability to control his alcoholism drives his wife away, leaving Gil to take care of his lovable son, Nino (John Michael Reyes). In despair, Gil promises to quit drinking and reunify the family. But one night, Gil experiences another blackout. This time, he is left with a mysterious bloody rear bumper on his tattered Mercedes. In the calamitous aftermath his life spirals into hysteria as he struggles to uncover the real story hidden by his fragmented viewpoint, one where the lines between real and unreal are blurred.
Bautista plays with rapid imagery through deftly edited sequences to parallel Gil’s scattered mind. Delivering a powerful, nuanced performance, Padilla captures one man’s desperate attempt to regain a normal, sober life for his beloved family. He is accompanied by Iza Calzado, who gives a haunting portrayal of Belen, the estranged neighbor.
Bautista’s keen ability to switch between reality and illusion establishes BLACKOUT as a standout film in the thriller genre. Presenting a suspenseful story from a small corner of Philippine life, Bautista has charted a distinctive new direction for Filipino cinema, and moves onto the world scene as a talented young filmmaker.
—Viet-Ly Nguyen
