| Kisapmata | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:The_House_on_Zapote_Blinks.jpeg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mike de Leon |
| Written by |
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| Based on | The House on Zapote Street by Quijano de Manila |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Rody Lacap |
| Edited by | Jess Navarro |
| Music by | Lorrie Ilustre |
Production company | Bancom Audiovision |
| Distributed by | Bancom Audiovision |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Languages | |
Kisapmata (Filipino for "in the blink of an eye"[1]) is a 1981 Filipino psychological horror film directed by Mike de Leon, co-written with himself, Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., and Raquel Villavicencio. It stars Vic Silayan, Charo Santos, Jay Ilagan, and Charito Solis. The plot was inspired by the crime reportage "The House on Zapote Street" written by Nick Joaquin.[2] The piece chronicles the events leading up to the highly publicized familicide committed by Pablo Cabading, a retired policeman.[3]
Considered as a pioneer of psychological horror film genre in the Philippines, its subject matter and themes, especially drawn parallels from true crime stories, marked the first major treatment of incest in Philippine cinema, while its message has been viewed as a commentary against the patriarchy and the regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos.[4]
Premiering at the 7th Metro Manila Film Festival, which drew controversy upon release; despite this, the film received critical acclaim, establishing de Leon as one of the great directors of the new generation of Filipino filmmakers. The film won ten awards from the festival, including Best Film, and was subsequently screened at the 35th Cannes Film Festival during the Directors' Fortnight, alongside de Leon's Batch '81.
Often regarded one of the greatest Filipino films ever made in retrospective years, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Filipino Film Critics) included it in their list of Ten Best Films of the Decade and was voted the 3rd best Filipino film of all time (behind Manila in the Claws of Light and Himala, respectively) in a 2013 poll organized by Pinoy Rebyu.[5] In 2020, the film was digitally restored with a subsequent theatrical screening at the 34th Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy.
- ^ Vibal & Villegas 2020, p. 372.
- ^ Romulo, Erwin T. (February 26, 2010). "Pop crimes: Quijano de Manila's 'Reportage on Crime'". Young Star. The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023.
- ^ Arriola 2010, p. 275–277.
- ^ Tajan, Menchie; Gatchalian, Elmer (2021) [1994]. "Kisapmata". Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Cultural Center of the Philippines. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Labastilla, Skilty C. (November 2017). "On Film Polls and Pinoy Rebyu". Plaridel. 14 (2): 195–205. doi:10.52518/2017.14.2-15cmpos. S2CID 245578823. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.