It appears Babygirl’s Harris Dickinson is a Lino Brocka fan. In a recent visit to the famed Criterion Closet, the English actor included among his top three picks the acclaimed Filipino director’s 1975 classic Manila in the Claws of Light next to Mike Leigh’s “Life Is Sweet” and John Mackenzie’s “The Long Good Friday.”
Dickinson’s first pick, Manila in the Claws of Light (or Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag) is a haunting social commentary on inequality and corruption in the Philippines during the 1970s. Directed by Brocka, one of the country’s most influential filmmakers, the drama follows protagonist Julio as he moves to Manila in search of his missing girlfriend, Ligaya. What unfolds is a harsh, unflinching portrayal of the brutal realities of city life as Julio becomes entangled in the underworld of Manila.
The Criterion Collection is a curated series of “important classic and contemporary films on home video,” according to Criterion’s official website. From classic masterpieces to lesser-known gems, each title in the collection is carefully chosen for its cultural significance and artistic value. Films that have received this “Criterion treatment” are stored in the Criterion Closet — a special space where actors, directors, and filmmakers are invited to select their favorite titles from the collection.
Dickinson is known for his roles in films like The Iron Claw, Triangle of Sadness, and the upcoming A24 erotic thriller Babygirl.
The Criterion Collection is no stranger to spotlighting Philippine cinema. Besides Manila in the Claws of Light, the collection also includes Insiang, another film directed by Brocka, which explores the claustrophobic melodrama of the slums in Manila. Filipino filmmakers, such as Lingua Franca director and actress Isabel Sandoval, have also been invited to curate a selection of films from the Criterion Closet.
