The hidden nightlife of ordinary people living in Manila unveils. Lovers and families’ conflicts are radically pitted against each other as they live in the night streets rampant with drugs and prostitution. The outstanding narrative explicitly unravels the various characters and episodes. This landmark film of Ishmael Bernal depicts the darkness of city life so vividly that it was once prohibited to use the word ‘Manila’ on its title. —IMDb
Ishmael Bernal (30 September 1938 – 2 June 1996) was an acclaimed Filipino film, stage and television director. He was also an actor and screenwriter. Noted for his melodramas particularly with feminist and moral issues, his 1982 film Himala (Miracle) is often cited as one of the greatest Filipino films of all time. —Wikipedia
Ishmael Bernal's Manila By Night is truly a gem of Philippine cinema. An honest portrait of the lives of the city's inhabitants.
One of THE reasons which pushed the envelope for my art-house cinefilia. A gritty look, unsympathetic and undeniably tremendous in its "gory" scope.