Manila in the Claws of Light (Criterion Collection)

After his girlfriend Ligaya (Hilda Coronel) was enticed to Manila for work--and never heard from again--provincial fisherman Julio (Bembol Roco) set out in search of her. Taking low-end, dangerous, and demeaning jobs to sustain himself in his quest, the naive youngster faces a grueling slog through the worst corruption and exploitation that the big town has to offer. Arresting, gritty effort from director Lino Brocka also stars Lou Salvador Jr., Joonee Gamboa, Spanky Manikan. 125 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: Tagalog Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; bonus documentaries “Signed: Lino Brocka” (1987), “’Manila’...A Filipino Film” (1975); featurettes. In Tagalog with English subtitles.