ML (film)

ML is a 2018 Philippine independent film written and directed by Benedict Mique Jr., starring Eddie Garcia as a retired METROCOM Colonel suffering from Alzheimer's disease, leading him to believe that he is still living in the days of the Marcos dictatorship.[1][2] He mistakes a visiting student, played by Tony Labrusca as an activist resisting Marcos' Martial Law administration, and captures and torture the student, just as he did to activists back in the 1970s.[3][2] The film was released on August 3, 2018 at the 14th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.[1]

ML
Directed byBenedict Mique Jr.[1]
Written byBenedict Mique Jr.
Starring
Music byPearlsha Abubakar-Quebral
CinematographyAnne Monzon
Edited byMikael Pestano
Distributed bySolar Pictures
Release date
Running time
90 minutes[4]
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Along with Kip Oebanda's Liway, it is one of two Cinemalaya 2018 films featuring social commentary about the martial law, continuing the tradition of 2017's Respeto in light of the 2016 Burial of Ferdinand Marcos and the rise of his children Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Imee Marcos in Philippine politics.[1][5]

Plot

Carlo (Tony Labrusca), a pro martial law millennial student, interviews retired Colonel Dela Cruz (Eddie Garcia) about his experience and service under the Marcos regime during the martial law days. Unbeknownst to Carlo, the Colonel is actually delusional and psychopathic in nature.

Just as when the interview was starting at the Colonel's home, he strikes Carlo in the head causing him to be unconscious. When Carlo woke up, he finds himself strapped on a chair in the basement. Confused of what was happening, he demanded to be cut loose by the Colonel but is only answered with physical battery. He is later tortured in numerous ways by the delusional Colonel while asking him questions that he has entirely no clue what's about. His best friend Jace and girlfriend Pat are later lured into the same basement through deceiving text messages. All three of them were tortured in front of each other. Both Carlo and Jace were beaten-up and electrocuted. Jace was water-boarded and later murdered by Russian-roulette. Pat was tied up and was burned with cigarettes on her private parts and was also sexually violated with a bottle.

Jace's corpse was later thrown on a pavement with a sign that says “Huwag tularan, pusher” to make him look like a casualty in Duterte's drug war. Only Carlo and Pat were able to escape. They were able to report their case to the police but Colonel Dela Cruz was acquitted of any charges because there was no substantial evidences found that can be used against him.

Hungry for justice, Carlo goes back to the Colonel's home one night and plans to kill him. He’ s able to slip into the house but only to find out that the old Colonel has already died in his sleep.

Cast

See also

References
  1. Alejo, Aubrey (2018-07-06). "5 Most Exciting Reasons To Watch Cinemalaya 2018". Meg.
  2. Abanilla, Clarizel (2018-07-25). "Eddie Garcia on 'ML,' his 3rd Cinemalaya starring film". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  3. "WATCH: Tony Labrusca is tortured in new film about martial law". ABS-CBN News. 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  4. "ML: Cinemalaya". Cinemalaya. 2018.
  5. Babiera, Lester G. (2018-07-09). "2018 Cinemalaya tackles travails of aging and horrors of martial law". Retrieved 2018-07-31.
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