Cinema Politica presents the Quebec premieres of Beastmode and The Mortician of Manila with director Leah Borromeo

Join Cinema Politica Concordia for the Quebec premiere of Beastmode, A Social Experiment and The Mortician of Manila, two films that critically explore the impact of Duterte’s fascist government in the Philippines, with director Leah Borromeo in attendance for a discussion after the films.

Admission is by donation — $5 to $10 suggested. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Childcare is available upon request with 24 hours’ notice. Please email Cinema Politica for more information.

Beastmode, A Social Experiment 
Manuel Ill Mesina and Banuk Amante / Philippines / 2018 / 90 ' / English — Filipino / subtitles in English

Beastmode, A Social Experiment is an explosive critical-creative exploration of pop culture, violent spectacle and fascist politics in the Philippines. It interweaves what at first sight seem to be two unconnected storylines: the first two years of rule by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines — notorious for his war against drugs — and the reconstruction of a social and artistic experiment about violence and performance. The film is a sort of Fight Club 2.0.

The Mortician of Manila
Leah Borromeo / Philippines — United Kingdom / 2019 / 26 ' / Tagalog / subtitles in English

Orly Fernandez manages and lives at Eusebio’s — a 24-hour funeral parlour in Manila. His relationships with clients and the journalists he meets daily colour the empathy and contempt he holds for drug war victims who, like him, are struggling to survive. With intimate access, The Mortician of Manila deftly captures some of the devastation caused by Duterte's so-called war on drugs in the Philippines.