Cover Screencap from 'A Thousand Cuts' (2020) by Ramona Diaz / PBS Distribution
Screencap from 'A Thousand Cuts' (2020) by Ramona Diaz / PBS Distribution
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We list down some of today's mind-blowing documentaries for you that might help awaken your national and global consciousness
In recent years, critically acclaimed and award-winning documentaries about the Philippines' political atmosphere have been trending. After being streamed online for limited durations multiple times, Ramona Diaz's A Thousand Cuts of Frontline has been finally made available on YouTube for free, while Lauren Greenfield's The Kingmaker became streamable on iWant.ph even for non-premium users. Also in the month-long documentary film festival Dokyu Power hosted by Cinema Centenario, everyone can watch Alyx Ayn Arumpac's Aswang for free until April 9, 2022.
Above Screencap from 'The Kingmaker' (2019) by Lauren Greenfield / SHOWTIME
Above Screencap from 'Aswang' (2019) by Alyx Ayn Arumpac / DaangDokyu
Screencap from 'The Kingmaker' (2019) by Lauren Greenfield / SHOWTIME
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In these films, we have seen the deep-seated corruption in the government and how it affects the lives of ordinary citizens. We've seen how powerful public officials play in the 'game of thrones' to stay in power or at least stay relevant in the minds of the people to regain their trust.
Other than these three must-see films about Philippine politics, check out these nine similar films that you can also stream online:
1. Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
Available both on Netflix's video-on-demand app and YouTube channel, this emotional documentary relieves the peaceful student demonstrations of 2014 in Ukraine and how it escalated into a violent revolution 93 days after.
Watch it here
2. The Last Days
Executively produced by Steven Spielberg and the USC Shoa Foundation, this Academy Award-winning documentary in 1998 was remastered and made available on Netflix last 2021. It follows the lives of Holocaust survivors and their plight during the last year of World War II, the time when the Nazis stretched their resources to exterminate or deport over 425,000 Jews.
Watch it here
3. The Edge of Democracy
This political documentary and personal memoir of writer-director Petra Costa explores the truth behind the administrations of two Brazilian presidents, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and President Dilma Rousseff. The two presidencies were marked with scandals and intrigues, which led to the imprisonment of the former and the impeachment of the latter.
Watch it here
4. The Perfect Weapon
This HBO original documentary sheds light on the rise of cyber conflict among many nations. Based on David E Sanger's book, the film is a searing look inside the secret world of spies, hackers, and scammers set against the backdrop of the US 2020 elections.
Watch it here
5. The Way I See It
Another documentary film about US politics, Dawn Porter's The Way I See It takes us behind the scenes of two of the most iconic presidents in recent American history. Based on his New York Times #1 bestselling book, Porter uses renowned White House photographer Pete Souza as the vantage point to examine the tremendous responsibilities of a US president, particularly of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.
Watch it here
6. After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News
Let your eyes be opened by this 2020 documentary about the rising phenomenon of 'fake news' which has been prevalent not only in the US but in many parts of the world. The impact of disinformation on average citizens amid the social media age gets centre stage in this riveting documentary. One of the focuses of the film is the infamous 'Pizzagate' case that is linked to the Clintons, the disinformation campaigns of the 2016 presidential elections, and the Jade Helm conspiracy theories.
Watch it here
7. The Silence of Others
Directed by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar, this film premieres in the country this weekend via Dokyu Power, a festival of documentary films organised by FilDocs with DAKILA and its Active Vista Centre, and accessible through Cinema Centenario's website. The Silence of Others is a Goya and Emmy award-winning film that features people who have survived the brutalities of the Franco dictatorship in Spain. The victims reopen their emotional wounds in the film in an attempt to find closure and fight for a better future.
Watch it here
8. Collective
Nominated for both the Academy Awards and BAFTA, Collective by Alexander Nanau sheds light on the people of Romania and the country's broken healthcare system. It centres on the 2016 public health scandal after the Colectiv nightclub fire.
Watch it here
9. Portraits of Mosquito Press
The 20-year-rule of the late strongman Ferdinand E Marcos sparked the prevalence of the Mosquito Press—small, independent newspapers circulating throughout the country to fight disinformation and expose the corruption in the government and police force. Jose "Joe" Burgos Jnr was the central figure in this documentary film by his son JL Burgos, revealing the risks and dangers they've experienced in publishing an alternative newspaper during Martial Law.
Watch it here
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
