KISAPMATA

In 1982, legend of Filipino cinema Mike De Leon became the rare director to have two films competing at Cannes in the same year: KISAPMATA and BATCH ‘81. Both censored upon release for their societal taboos and overt political implications, these two psychological dramas unfold with the slow burn of the very best horror and stand as unflinching allegories of Philippine martial law under the Marcos regime. Following De Leon’s passing in August, we’re honored to screen two of his legendary works in new restorations.

KISAPMATA

When Mila tells her retired-cop father, Dadang, that she is pregnant and intends to marry her co-worker Noel, darkness descends as Dadang begins a game of exclusion and manipulation to reassert his control. Based on the true crime reportage The House on Zapote Street by Nick Joaquin, KISAPMATA, now vividly restored in 4K by L'Immagine Ritrovata, is a stunning example of psychological horror, a film that meticulously tightens the noose around its characters until the outcome feels inevitable. The result is a savage, unflinching portrait of patriarchy at its most pathological—and a potent allegory for the brutality of the Marcos regime. This 4K restoration is courtesy of Kani Releasing.

Get tickets for BATCH '81 screening on 12/13.