MANILA, Philippines – Independent Filipino filmmaker Mike de
Leon died at the age of 78, his family confirmed to French film distributor
CarlottaFilms.
Known to be “fiercely political,” De Leon was the brilliant
mind behind a myriad of films that offer deep social commentary and highlights
the plight of the marginalized.
One of his greatest works as cinematographer is Maynila sa
mga Kuko ng Liwanag which was directed by Lino Brocka and starred Bembol Roco
and Hilda Koronel.
De Leon would go on to direct films such as "Sister Stella
L.," "Itim," "Batch ’81," and "Kakabakaba Ka Ba?" — all of which would make a mark on
Filipinos across generations.
Among his latest works before his death was the
award-winning 2018 film "Citizen Jake," which had been made available for free
streaming ahead of the high-stakes 2022 presidential elections.
De Leon’s films were even screened at the Museum of Modern
Art in New York in 2022, just months after "Itim" made its Cannes Film Festival
debut. The iconic supernatural film was locally released in 1976.
In 2019, the Philippine cinema icon had also released a
short film titled "Kangkunga — his critique on the Duterte administration.
Other than his extensive filmography, De Leon also has a
book titled Mike de Leon’s Last Look Back, which he referred to as a
“photographic memoir of [his] life in cinema.” – Rappler.com
Me with award-winning director Mike de Leon and TV broadcaster Atom Araullo, the lead star in MDL’s “Citizen Jake”… photo taken during the book launching of Mike de Leon book (Batch ’81: The Making of a Mike de Leon Film) in 2017.
Miguel Pamintuan de Leon, also known as Mike de Leon, is a noted Filipino film director, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer. He was born in Manila on May 24, 1947 to Manuel de Leon and Imelda Pamintuan. His interest in filmmaking began when he pursued a master's degree in Art History at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
De Leon first made two short films namely: Sa Bisperas, 1972, and Monologo (Monologue), 1975. He established the Cinema Artists Philippines in 1975. He produced Lino Brocka's Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, while also acting as the said film's cinematographer in 1975. For Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, De Leon won best cinematography awarded by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences [Famas].
"Itim" (1976)- Stars Tommy Abuel, Charo Santos, Mario Montenegro, Mona Lisa, Moody Diaz, Susan Valdez/ Directed by Mike De Leon
De Leon's films are a full reflection of the Filipino psyche that sought answer for questions on social class belonging, political absurdities, and fragmentations in various forms. His first major full-length work was, Itim (Black), in 1976. It was an in-depth study of guilt and violence and shows de Leon’s delicate balancing of cinematic elements to project mood and character. It was voted by the Philippine’s Urian Awards as one of the Ten Outstanding Films of the Decade: 1970-1979. The film also won him the best director award during the 1978 Asian Film Festival held in Sydney, Australia.
"Kung Mangarap ka't Magising "(1977)- Stars Christopher De Leon, Hilda Koronel, Laurice Guillen, Moody Diaz, Bibeth Orteza, Danny Javier, Boboy Garrovillo/ Directed by Mike De Leon
When De Leon created Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising in 1977, it became a tribute to his grandmother Dona Sisang to celebrate the centennial of the family's film company, LVN Pictures.
"Kakaba-Kaba Ka Ba?" (1980)- Stars Christopher De Leon, Charo Santos, Jay Ilagan, Sandy Andolong, Boboy Garrovillo, Johnny Delgado and Armida Siguon-Reyna/ Directed by Mike De Leon
Known for his varied experiments in styles of film directing, he pushed the birth of the new musical in Kakabakaba Ka Ba?, a landmark film which portrayed a number of self-important totems of Philippine society. Kakabakaba Ka ba? won for De Leon the Urian award for best director.
"Kisapmata" (1980)- Stars Charito Solis, Jay Ilagan, Vic Silayan and Charo Santos/ Directed by Mike De Leon
His other movies include Kisapmata (1981), Batch '81 (1982) and Sister Stella L. (1984). In these films he tackled social and political issues with powerful and disturbing imagery. His blockbuster film, Hindi Nahahati ang Langit (1985) was an adaptation from an earlier Filipino Komiks version of the same title. In 1987, De Leon also made Bilanggo sa Dilim, a full-length video commissioned by Sony Entertainment.
"Batch'81" (1981)- Stars Mark Gil, Sandy Andolong, Ward Luarca, Noel Trinidad, Ricky Sandico/ Directed by Mike De Leon
"Sister Stella L." (1984)- Stars Vilma Santos, Jay Ilagan, Gina ALajar, Laurice Guillen, Tony Santos, Anita Linda and Liza Lorena/ Directed by Mike De Leon
De Leon explored subjects such as incest, fraternity violence, and the Filipino workers' cause. These were themes that were portrayed in the films Kisapmata, Batch '81 and Sister Stella L. respectively. These films became cinematic masterpieces in Philippine History of Filmography and were later listed as the Philippines's Ten Outstanding Films of the Decade: 1980-1989 by the Philippines’ Urian Awards. Later on, Batch '81 was voted best picture by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) where de Leon also won a best screenplay award. For Sister Stella L. de Leon won best director and best screenplay in the Philippines's Urian Awards in 1984. Kisapmata and Batch '81 were presented during the Directors' Fortnight at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. The film Sister Stella L. was an entry during the 1985 Venice Film Festival.
"Hindi Nahahati ang Langit" (1985)- Stars Christopher de Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano/ Directed by Mike de Leon
De Leon pioneered the use of computer graphics animation for the TV advertising industry in 1988.
De Leon’s film, Aliwan Paradise, became a part of the Southern Winds in 1993, which is a collection of four films from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippine, and Japan. The NHK and Japan Foundation commissioned this film anthology.
Source: Wikipedia
"Bayaning 3rd World" (1999)- Stars Ricky Davao, Joel Torre, Cris Villanueva, Cherry Pie Picache, Rio Locsin, Lara Fabregas, Daria Ramirez, Joonee Gamboa, Ed Rocha/ Directed by Mike De Leon
Filmography
2018 Citizen Jake
1999 Bayaning Third World
1993 Southern Winds: Aliwan Paradise
1987 Bilanggo sa Dilim (unreleased) video
1985 Hindi Nahahati ang Langit
1984 Sister Stella L.
1883 Signos
1982 Batch '81
1981 Kisapmata
1980 Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
1977 Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising
1976 Itim
1975 Monologo (Monologue), a short film
1972 Sa Bisperas, a short film
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