Manila in the Claws of Light

Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLino Brocka
Screenplay byClodualdo del Mundo Jr.
Based onIn the Claws of Brightness
by Edgardo M. Reyes
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMiguel de Leon
Edited by
  • Edgardo Jarlego
  • Ike Jarlego Jr.
Music byMax Jocson
Distributed byCinema Artists Philippines
Release dates
  • July 16, 1975 (1975-07-16)
  • August 7, 2013 (2013-08-07) (re-release)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Manila in the Claws of Light[1] (Tagalog: Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag) is a 1975 Filipino neo noir drama mystery film directed by Lino Brocka from a screenplay written by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., based on the story In the Claws of Brightness by Edgardo M. Reyes. It stars Hilda Koronel, Lou Salvador, Jr., Tommy Abuel, and in his film debut, Rafael Roco, Jr. The film features cinematography by Miguel de Leon and editing by brothers Edgardo and Ike Jarlego. It tells the story of Júlio Madiaga, a young man from the province of Marinduque who arrives in Manila for a mission to find his lover Ligaya. While making plans for his mission, he has to survive the conditions in the capital city, contending with issues like crime and prostitution.

It is one of many films in the Philippines during pre-Marcos era until its revolution, and in retrospectively, the only few of them to gain international critical recognition and widely considered the greatest Filipino film of all time by voters, especially the locals and international filmmakers and critics.[2][3]

  1. ^ "Pelikulang "Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag", itinanghal sa Cannes Film Festival". GMA News. May 20, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2015. Newly restored "Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag" (Manila in the Claws of Light) to premier in Cannes Film Festival 2013
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ David, Joel (May 3, 2014). "Fields of Vision – Ten Best Filipino Films Up to 1990". Amauteurish!. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.