MEL CHIONGLO

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBB

Original title:  Sibak

Philippines, 1994.  Tangent Films International.   Story and Screenplay by Ricardo Lee.  Cinematography by George Tutanes.  Produced by Ed Instrella.  Music by Nonong Buencamino.  Production Design by Edgar Martin Littaua.  Costume Design by Virgilio Tubino.  Film Editing by Jess Navarro.  

Young teenage boys in Manila work in a gay club as exotic dancers and sometimes prostitutes, but are mostly heterosexuals and maintain relationships with their girlfriends outside of the club. This powerful drama centres on the plight of one young man and his introduction into this seedy underworld after the first time he turns a trick for money and realizes it’s a good way to make some extra cash. There’s no doubt that the fairly explicity sexual situations are titillating, but beyond that it features sturdy direction and is far superior to Chionglo’s follow-up in the ‘Macho Dancer’ series, Burlesk King.