Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award(Creative Vision), APM 2023 SelectionWomenHuman Rights/Labor/Social
A luxurious country club on the outskirts of Manila is actually a microcosm of Philippine society, with the lingering ghost of colonialism and a distorted class structure. Isabel, a 17-year-old girl who begins working as a ‘tee girl,’ placing golf balls for players to hit, feels strangely drawn to Dr. Palanca, the club’s general manager. Meanwhile, businessman Renato plays a round of golf with his niece Clara, who is visiting from the United States, insisting that she take over the family business. Amid the absurdity of water overflowing on the fairway while it is rationed outside due to an extreme drought, the characters’ relationships lead toward the brutal truth the country club is hiding. This debut feature by Rafael Manuel expands his short film of the same title, which won the Berlinale Silver Bear for Best Short Film. With Jia Zhangke as an executive producer, the film attracted attention at this year’s Sundance, marking Manuel as a new talent in Philippine cinema. Meticulous compositions in the 4:3 aspect ratio screen, mesmerizing color contrast, and a delicately controlled mise-enscene present an intense sensory experience.
Born in 1990 in Manila, Rafael Manuel works between London, Amsterdam, and Manila. His short film Filipiñana (2020) was screened at numerous international film festivals, including the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the Singapore International Film Festival, and received the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the Berlinale. His debut feature, Filipiñana, expands on the short film of the same title and received the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
From Busan International Film Festival 2026, No. 31
