In this caustic cultural satire, Philippine master and Festival veteran Brillante Mendoza (Thy Womb) sets his sights on the moral failings of the contemporary news media.

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Vanguard

Sapi

Brillante Ma Mendoza

One of the masters of contemporary Philippine cinema, Brillante Ma Mendoza embarks on a very different course with his most recent film, the alternately hilarious and terrifying Sapi, a caustic media satire and horror film about the lengths news services will go to capture and capitalize on a story.

The film follows two competing television news teams as they chase a variety of leads, gradually zeroing in on an impending and possibly apocalyptic storm, and a middle-aged teacher who may or may not be possessed by a demon. Writer and actress Raquel Villavicencio plays the ruthless head of the top-rated network, coming off as a Tagalog variation on Faye Dunaway's fabled character in Network. Her team has eschewed covering politics in favour of triedand- true tabloid fodder: demonic possession.

Struggling to compete is a rival station hampered by a manager who's been resting on his laurels, and who is saddled with his new boy toy as the on-air correspondent. (The station's efforts are also derailed when the entire newsroom is disrupted by the unexpected appearance of a very large snake.) Desperate, they buy some footage from a shady cameraman — and Sapi suddenly morphs into a terrifying and graphic horror film as well as a chilling study on how superstition, mass media, and mass hysteria can converge.

Sapi is a furious critique of the way media can shape public opinion and play, inevitably, to the lowest common denominator. (Be forewarned, this movie is not for the squeamish; it ploughs forward, from one disturbing image to the next, much of it sexual in nature.) The result is a troubling, unforgettable assault on twenty-first century media and the culture that nurtures and allows it.

STEVE GRAVESTOCK

Screenings

Thu Sep 05

Scotiabank 14

Industry
5:30pm
Fri Sep 06

Scotiabank 3

Regular
10:00pm
Sat Sep 07

Scotiabank 10

Regular
9:45pm
Thu Sep 12

Scotiabank 8

Industry
6:45pm
Sun Sep 15

Scotiabank 14

Regular
3:00pm