[Original image at Tubebibo.net]

MANILA, Philippines – Another opus of Philippine cinema is premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

According to the website of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), a digitally-restored version of Lino Brocka’s “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” will make its world premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival on May 15 to 26.

The 1975 film is considered one of the greatest Philippine movies of all time and helped Lino Brocka achieve legendary status among Filipino cineastes.

The drama film tells the tragic story of Julio Madiaga (played by Bembol Roco), a man from the province who goes to the mega city of Manila in search of his beautiful girlfriend, Ligaya Paraiso (Hilda Koronel). The cruelty and machinations of the city disillusion him and make him wish for his simple life in the province.

As the events unfold, Julio is slowly eaten up by the city and its people.

The plot is based on the novel of the same title (“In the Claws of Brightness” in English) by Edgardo M. Reyes.

Helming the restoration efforts was the FDCP in cooperation with World Cinema Foundation chaired by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese. The film’s premiere at Cannes was confirmed by Thierry Fremaux, film festival director.

Watch the trailer here:

Restoration projects

“Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” is the FDCP’s second restoration project. They also restored Manuel Conde’s 1950 film “Genghis Khan” with the help of L’Immagine Ritrovata in Italy, one of the best film restoration laboratories in the world.

The restored version of Conde’s film premiered in the Venice Film Festival in 2012.

The Italian restoration lab is also responsible for the “Maynila” restoration. FDCP also credits the film’s copyright holder Mike de Leon for the success of the restoration project. – Rappler.com