Macho Dancer

Macho Dancer
Movie Poster
Directed by Lino Brocka
Written by Amado Lacuesta
Ricardo Lee
Starring Daniel Fernando
Jaclyn Jose
Allan Paule
Jonard Abanco
Cinematography

Joe Totanes[1]

awards =
Release date
 1988
Running time
 136 mins
Language Tagalog

Macho Dancer is a 1988 Philippine film, directed Lino Brocka,[2] which explores the harsh realities of a young, poor, rural gay man, who after being dumped by his American boyfriend, is forced to make a living for himself in Manila's seamy red-light district. Based on a true story, the film's frank depiction of homosexuality, prostitution, drag queens and crooked cops, porno movie-making and sexual slavery, and drugs and violence caused the Filipino government censors to order extensive edits of the film, forcing an uncensored edition to be smuggled out of the Philippines and shown to a limited number of international film festivals.[3] The Toronto Film Festival gave it a standing ovation.[1] Due to being heavily censored the film was a box office disaster but an international festival and critical success.[1]

The uncensored film is part of the permanent collection at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.[4]

Brocka completed one other film before dying on 21 May 1991.[5]

It is one of the most influential gay films from the Philippines.[6] The film also unusually has a main hero killing a (crooked) police office and not being charged or anything else happen to him.[7]

Alan Paule and other actors playing 'macho dancers' were trained by a real macho dancer for three months.[5]

Synopsis

Abandoned by his American lover, (who finished his tour of duty in the country). Pol (Alan Paule) a poor, gay teenager from the mountains is forced to move to Manilla and support himself and his family by entering into the underground urban world of male strippers, prostitution, illegal drugs, sexual exploitation and slavery. Including a scene where two nude men take a shower together on stage at 'Mama Charlie's Bar'. Pol also meets police oppression, corruption and murder. His only real friend is a successful call boy, Noel (Daniel Fernando) who acts as his mentor. Noel is desperate for extra money to help his search for his missing sister.

Cast

Awards

Year Film Festival/Award Award Category/Recipient
1990Gawad Urian AwardsBest ActorDaniel Fernando [5]
1990Gawad Urian AwardsBest Supporting ActressJacklyn Jose

Reviews

On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an average score of 78%, based on 81 views.[8]

Kevin Thomas of L.A. Times in 1989 commented that the film is "very steamy both in gay and straight situations" and the "cast seems to be living rather than acting their roles".[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Peter Malone (editor)Through a Catholic Lens: Religious Perspectives of Nineteen Film Directors from around the World, p. 137, at Google Books
  2. ↑ "MACHO DANCER (1988)". bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. 1 2 Thomas, Kevin (8 December 1989). "MOVIE REVIEW : Gays in Manila Struggle for Survival in 'Macho Dancer'". L.A. Times. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Raymond Murray (1994). Images in the Dark: An Encyclopedia of Gay and Lesbian Film and Video. TLA Publications. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-880707-01-2.
  5. 1 2 3 "Macho Dancer (Lino Brocka, 1988)". cinefilipinas.blogspot.com. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  6. ↑ Claude Summers (editor) The Queer Encyclopedia of Film and Television, p. 135, at Google Books
  7. ↑ James Monaco The Encyclopedia of Film, p. 81, at Google Books
  8. ↑ "MACHO DANCER (1988)". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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