Director: Lino Brocka
Screenplay: Clodualdo Del Mundo
Cinematographer: Miguel de Leon
Editing: Ike Jarlego Jr, Edgardo Jarlego
Sound: Francisco Rabara, Luis Reyes, Ramon Reyes
Music: Max Jocson
Cast.: Bembol Roco, Hilda Coronel, Lou Salbador Jr, Tommy Abuel, Jojo Abella, Juling Badabaldo
Production: Miguel de Leon, Cinema Artist
Year: 1975
DCP, Color, 124 min,
OV Tagalog with French subtitles
Unreleased
Cannes Classics 2013
In a fishermen village on one island of Philippines, Mrs. Cruz is a unscrupulous woman making poor parents believe their daughter will get a brighter future in Manila where she will take care of her education. Once in the capital, Ligaya is immediately thrown into the infernal circle of prostitution. A wealthy Chinese business man falls in love with her and keeps her secluded in his house at Binondo. Young fisherman Julio enamored of Ligaya leaves to look for her when he gets no more news from her. To survive he has to become an underpaid worker on a construction site, and even prostitutes himself for a while. This diving into the urban jungle seems like a descent into hell with little chance to escape.
Manila: in the Claws of the Neon is a classic of Filipino cinema shot with great realism during a dark period of the history, where Lino Brocka gives Bembol Rocco his first leading role.
The restoration is done by World Cinema Foundation at Cineteca di Bologna.
