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Aswang
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Aswang
IDFA 2019

Aswang

Alyx Ayn Arumpac
Philippines, France, Norway, Qatar, Germany
2019
85 min
World Premiere
Festival history

“Aswang” is a term in the Philippines for witches, vampires, ghosts and werewolves—a collection of evil spirits that feature heavily in myths and popular films. But since President Rodrigo Duterte took office, they have been appearing in real life on the streets of Manila.

In Duterte’s drug war, death squads have shot, tortured and kidnapped tens of thousands of drug users, dealers and innocent bystanders over the past three years. Duterte gives police officers free rein to use brutal violence, which is particularly directed at the poorest sections of society. According to Amnesty International, this amounts to state terror and crimes against humanity.

Aswang follows a group of people whose lives have been caught up in these events: a journalist who tries to make a stand against lawlessness, a coroner, a missionary brother who comforts bereaved family members, and a street kid with parents in prison and friends in the cemetery. The film is a shocking account of unprecedented violence and the moral bankruptcy of a regime that still enjoys support from voters.

Credits
Director
Co-production
    Les Films de l'oeil sauvage,
    Stray Dog Productions AS,
    Razor Film Produktion GmbH
    Les Films de l'oeil sauvage,
    Stray Dog Productions AS,
    Razor Film Produktion GmbH
Cinematography
Editing
Sound Design
    John Michael Perez,
    Mikko Quizon
    John Michael Perez,
    Mikko Quizon
Music
    Teresa Barrozo
    Teresa Barrozo
Screening copy
    Cinematografica films
    Cinematografica films
Narration

Images

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