THE EIGHTIES # 747: PHILLIP SALVADOR, GINA ALAJAR, CARMI MARTIN, WITH RAOUL ARAGONN, PAQUITO DIAZ, REZ CORTEZ, LORLI VILLANUEVA, ARIOSTO REYES, JR., MONA LISA IN LINO BROCKA'S "KAPIT SA PATALIM (BAYAN KO)" (1985)

(Synopsis): Married couple Arturo and Luz Manalastas (Phillip Salvador and Gina ALajar) both work in a printing press. Luz eventually becomes pregnant, leading Arturo to ask for a raise. The boss agrees; however, Arturo ("Turing") is asked to sign a waiver to the effect that he would not join any Labor Union. Soon, though, his co-workers and friends go on strike and tell him that they are forming a labor union. Arturo is invited to join, but he declines due to the waiver he signed. In so doing, he is treated by his friends as a traitor and is ostracized. Not long after, the printing press is closed down. At this point, Luz has been confined in a hospital, which will not discharge her until Turing is able to pay her medical bills. In his desperate situation, Turing turns to a life of crime, with tragic results.

The story was loosely based on incidents that made news in the early 1970s before the Martial Law era, such as a strike that paralyzed Manila, the kidnapping of a businessman and the shoot-out between the kidnappers and police. Thus, the film made censors uneasy and its release was delayed with the intent of finding a way to keep the movie from being released. All rally scenes were ordered deleted, as well as the title song. Eventually, a few scenes portraying live sex shows were also cut out, and the film was released.

The film was then smuggled into France and was shown at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival. A sensation was caused when Brocka announced to the international media that Bayan Ko was banned in his homeland for unexplained reasons. Due to this furor, the government realized that the film was highly critical of the current regime and ordered Brocka's arrest. He was eventually released.

Source: Wikipilipinas 

"Kapit sa Patalim (Bayan Ko)" (1985)

Malaya Films and Stephen Films

Release Date November 6, 1985

Story and Screenplay Jose F. Lacaba

Cinematography Conrado Baltazar

Editor George Jarlego, Robert Yujuico, Hero Reyes

Musical Director Jess Santiago

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Phillip Salvador, Gina Alajar, Carmi Martin/ Also Starring Raoul Aragonn, Paquito Diaz, Rez Cortez, Lorli Villanueva, Ariosto Reyes, Jr., Mona Lisa, Lucita Soriano, Venchito Galvez, Bey Vito, Nomer Son And Jose Taruc/ with the PETA Kalinangan Ensemble

The movie ad when it was released in 1986, after the EDSA Revolution

VHS Cover