Macho Dancer

Liz4.5

Reminds me of a film like Showgirls in how Brocka is able to both expose the governmental corruption that controls and profits from sex work while also fully indulging in and eroticizing the work itself, using the many dance scenes as a means of manipulating and indicting the film's audience for contributing to the suffering that these characters face when they're not on stage or on the streets trying to make a living. A little too long, but remarkably bold given when and where it was made, and completely unlike anything I'd expect to see in a Filipino film from the era.

Jack Often4.0

Some of the erotic scenes in Lino Brocka's Philippine sex trade epic are interminable and I began to worry it would go the bland softcore route of so many other Strand releases of the 80's and 90's, which approach a social issue for the sole purpose of getting you hornt. But here it's all a clever ruse to make you as complicit as possible so that once things turn dark, you feel ashamed for having eyes.There are a few things I would have liked to see more of; the grotuesqueries of sex tourism for example. Americans in particular get off rather lightly. There are a few moments that trigger one of my pet peeves, (lingering endlessly at a crime scene for dramatic purposes.) And a few scenes run on much too long.But there is so much to appreciate. Allan Paule and Jacklyn Jose are sensational. The so-80's soundtrack is a trip. The economic conditions that give rise to so much vampirism are well-illustrated. And I love the way things seem somewhat dark for the men, but as soon as women are introduced into the story the rock is fully turned over. The exposure of police and government complicity in the sex trade, and the consequent crime that goes unpunished in the finale, make the whole film feel especially rebellious.This film was so heavily censored under Aquino that the only uncut print of it had to be smuggled out of the country. It now resides at MoMA and I wish they or somebody would put out a more respectful edition of the film than the cruddy, barely functional DVD-R that exists. This deserves at least as much respect as Eloy de la Iglesia's Quinqui films, with which it has much in common.[Edit]- One of the sex scenes I initially felt was too long is the first encounter between Paule and Jose. But reconsidering, it's a major plot point and deserves to be long because it's the moment you realize you have taken a lot for granted; Paule may have always been straight, and either way has done everything you spent an hour witnessing only to earn your filthy tourist dollars. It's the moment you realize that whatever pleasure there may have been in other encounters, this is the first time he has ever been able to have sex for his own pleasure on his own terms. And his infatuation with Jose for that reason is the same as any teenager's might be after losing their virginity, regardless of his work with men.Best Old Queer Things

randlechris4.0

Tragic Mike