#hildakoronel

Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag

         The film “Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” is based from a novel “In The Claws of Brightness” written by Edgardo M. Reyes and was became a filipino drama-mystery film on the late 1975 directed by Lino Brocka. It stars Bembol Roco, Hilda Koronel, Lou Salvador, Jr., Juling Bagabaldo, Tommy Abuel., et al.

          Bembol Roco as Julio the “probinsyano” came to face the world in Manila to look for his love, Ligaya played by Hilda Koronel who was sent to Manila by Ms. Cruz telling her that she could get a good life in Manila. Julio didn’t stop to search for Ligaya. He invested his free time in working in a construction site and even selling his body just to earn money. Upon waiting and searching for Ligaya, there are so many struggles he had been through. 

          As a millennial, I won’t appreciate a film like this because it is too old fashion but when you look at the other side of watching and understanding the film, it’s incredible. It has so many symbolism that the viewers could get. Just like the Maynila itself. It represents how and what it really looks like not like what the people from provinces perspective about the life in Maynila. What they know is, Maynila is a fancy place to live in but this movie will tell us all.

           If I would rate the film, I would rate it 7 out of 10. Its a 70’s film and the production was not like what we expect it to be. But, if we just look at how the story goes, we can learn from it. I recommend this film especially from the Filipinos from different provinces for them to know what Manila really is.