Batang West Side

West Side Avenue

Directed by Lav Diaz

Philippines, United States, 2001

Drama

Synopsis

Jersey City cop, Juan Mijares, pieces together the events leading to the death of Hanzel Harana, a young Filipino found shot in the head on West Side Avenue.

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Batang West Side Directed by Lav Diaz

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Awards & Festivals

Locarno International Film Festival

2013

Cinemanila International Film Festival

2001 | 2 wins including: Best Actor

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Articles from the Notebook

Long Story Long: An Introduction to Lav Diaz’s “Free Cinema”

An overview of the career of Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz, who desires to bring to the screen the struggles of his fellow countrymen.

Critics reviews

With its elaborately integrated flashback structure and ambiguously motivated protagonist, this classically paced, five-plus-hour procedural is at once more akin to the serialized television which was then taking hold in American home entertainment than the durational cinema which would soon make Diaz’s name, as well as a spiritual and political predecessor to the director’s recent, highly acclaimed Norte, the End of History.

Jordan Cronk

October 15, 2014

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What are people saying?

David Grillo's rating of the film Batang West Side
David Grillo

I feel I'll never get over this an experience an entire people the pitfalls of man every young man should see this film so many others so many young men I've known as real as this film I don't have anything revealing to say nothing that this masterpiece doesn't say for itself. Its one of the most important films I'll ever get to see please if you can don't hesitate watch it.
January 24, 2019 17:09
- 5
- 0
Diego Carrera's rating of the film Batang West Side
Diego Carrera

One of the most complete and profound exams of conscience I have seen in a movie with a social thematic. I've just been introduced to Lav Diaz work through this fantastic film and I'm deeply impressed.
October 25, 2013 04:55
- 1
- 0
Levi Miah's rating of the film Batang West Side
Levi Miah

Lav Diaz channels The Wire in this frosty neo-noir. Meticulously crafted in story and editing, setting the framework for Diaz's documentary style, it hypnotises in a completely different way to his later works. We're thrust into fine, close-up detail of addiction, neglect, loss and intracultural immigrant relations. A bleak study of a nation through it's individual characters in a foreign place.
May 01, 2017 16:21
- 0
- 0
Il secondo maestro del revolver's rating of the film Batang West Side
Il secondo maestro del revolver

4.5
November 30, 2016 12:50
- 1
- 0
matelot's rating of the film Batang West Side
matelot

4.5 I'm always more sure that Lav Diaz is of the greatest director (or "narrator") of our times.
November 02, 2015 07:04
- 3
- 0
Benjamin Bland's rating of the film Batang West Side
Benjamin Bland

Extraordinary in every way.
February 21, 2017 21:42
- 0
- 0