Holy Week begets a number of important things: peace, reflection, and a four-day weekend that’s perfect for a movie marathon with films of your choosing.
But, if you’re in need of a good watchlist, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to come up with several picks that tie into the end of the Lenten season. Or, well, more specifically, the Catholic faith, which has served as either the main core or dramatic backdrop of many Filipino films. Local filmmakers have long turned to the faith as their chosen subject, either leaning into its many teachings or questioning it entirely. While we’ve always had Holy Week staples such as Ishmael Bernal’s Himala, we’ve also selected contemporary and overlooked films that explore the core themes of faith.
Here, in no particular order, are the Filipino films we recommend you watch if you can’t get your Catholic upbringing off your mind.
‘Rewind’
Rewind is essentially a religious film, and it’s easy to see why Rewind is the top earner of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. In a country with a Catholic majority, a film where a comedic Jesus figure leads a grief-stricken husband (Dingdong Dantes) to save his wife (Marian Rivera), whom he lost in a tragic car crash, isn’t a tough sell. The Catholic idea of retribution, that someone has to die in someone’s stead, has always been bonkers, and Rewind plays it out in full display. Watch if you want to cry a lot. —Don Jaucian
‘Kristo’
A lot of historical revisionism takes place in director Ben Yalung’s Kristo; it does, after all, reimagine the New Testament in the Philippines. Mat Ranillo III steps into the role of Jesus Christ, who travels the provincial countryside to preach the word of God until his crucifixion. Also starring in Yalung’s Filipino take on the Bible are Christopher de Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Concepcion, Amy Austria, and more. —Mel Wang
‘GomBurZa’
For those looking for a more historical watch this Holy Week, turn to Pepe Diokno’s GomBurZa. It follows the trio of martyr priests — Padre Mariano Gomez (Dante Rivero), Padre Jose Burgos (Cedrick Juan), and Padre Jacinto Zamora (Enchong Dee) — as they navigate the false mutiny charges lobbed against them by Spanish colonizers. Although we all know how their story ends, GomBurZa does make for a surprisingly timely look at authoritarianism, independence, and the never-ending fight between good and evil. —Mel Wang
‘Itim’
Charo Santos, in her stellar film debut, plays Teresa, a mysterious town lass who captivates Jun (Tommy Abuel), a photographer who’s in town to tend to his ailing father and observe Holy Week rites. Teresa is a beguiling creature: she is tormented by the disappearance of her sister, Rosa, and there seems to be a supernatural link between her and Jun. Beyond its study of Filipino faith, Itim is a ghost story and a distillation of the eerie atmosphere of Holy Week rites. Mike de Leon plays his directorial debut up to a 100 with an excellent cast and a gripping screenplay by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. and Gil Quito (and, apparently, Ricky Lee?) —Don Jaucian
‘SantA Santita’
The first part of Santa Santita is basically an Angelica Panganiban and Hilda Koronel face-off, with the latter having a mild stroke every time her daughter (Panganiban) strays from the light of God. Koronel is Chayong, an intercessor (someone who prays on behalf of others) at Quiapo church. Her daughter, Malen (Panganiban) doesn’t want to live her mother’s life of faith. Chayong thinks of her as promiscuous and wants her to leave her life of sin. One day, Chayong dies of a heart attack, and Malen, in need of a job, takes on her mother’s position and, lo and behold, becomes the source of miracles. Director Laurice Guillen has the knack for turning out great performances from her cast, especially Panganiban, who transitioned from a teenybopper AngTV cast member to a serious actress through this film. —Don Jaucian
‘Tanging Yaman’
“Hindi po ba siya nalilito?” Carina (a young Shaina Magdayao) asks her grandmother, Loleng (Gloria Romero), while in church. Of course, she is referring to God, who is invoked by all the people praying and voicing their wishes in the church (a scene perfectly spoofed by Ang Tanging Ina three years later). Laurice Guillen sets the scene in her acclaimed 2000 film to underscore the steadfastness of Loleng and her relationship with her family: her sons, Danny (Johnny Delgado) and Art (Edu Manzano), and the prodigal daughter, Grace (Dina Bonnevie), and their respective spouses and children. A lot of bickering ensues, but the whole endeavor is marked by a lot of great praise music (the soundtrack is a gem, tbh) and it’s still amazing to watch a Johnny Delgado performance.—Don Jauciam
‘Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa’
All is well in the small coastal village of Sto. Rosario, until a priest, Father Emman (Jay Manalo), washes up on their shores. If the start to Joel Lamangan’s religious drama wasn’t ominous/miraculous enough, the good father quickly proves to be a capable con artist and, with the help of town prostitute Lorena (Ara Mina), conjures up a fake miracle that brings in revenue for the townspeople (and, well, Father Emman and Lorena). However, when a real miracle takes place involving Lorena’s younger sister, Cion (Maui Taylor), things get complicated for the scheming duo very quickly. —Mel Wang
‘Tatarin’
Based on the short story and play of the same name by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, Tatarin centers on Doña Lupe (Dina Bonnevie), a housewife trapped in a subservient marriage to Don Paeng (Edu Manzano). As an escape, Lupe takes part in the tatarin, a three-day fertility ritual that pushes the boundaries of her religious, conservative marriage. —Mel Wang
‘Smaller and Smaller Circles’
What better way to celebrate Easter than with two Jesuit priests solving a murder mystery? Directed by Raya Martin and based on the award-winning novel by F.H. Batacan, Smaller and Smaller Circles follows Father Gus (Nonie Buencamino) and Father Jerome (Sid Lucero) as they track down a serial killer targeting the young boys of Payatas. Things get gory fast, especially considering the killer’s predilection for organ removal. It’s enough to make anyone start asking questions about God and morality, but stick around to see if this priestly duo makes it out with their faith unscathed. —Mel Wang
‘Seklusyon’
As Filipinos, we do love a miracle. But in Erik Matti’s 2016 horror Seklusyon, it feels as if we shouldn’t be trusting the brooding, miracle-performing child Anghela (Rhed Bustamante) so quickly. The film, which bagged Matti Best Director at the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, centers on Miguel (Ronnie Alonte), a seminarian on the precipice of entering the priesthood. When he and three other seminarians are tasked with secluding themselves for a week in a convent, chaos quickly unfolds when Anghela and her menacing caretaker, Sister Cecilia (Phoebe Walker) join them in their seclusion. Matti navigates the darker roots of Catholicism and questions the strength of our faith in the face of evil. —Mel Wang
