A yakuza killer tries to buy redemption one free meal at a time in Manila's slums.
A Yakuza member seeking to lead a new life in Manila. A morbid turn of events brings Haruo (Jacky Woo) to the squalor of Manila. A prized asset of the feared Yakuza in Tokyo, Haruo, aka Tadano Hayashi, escapes the criminal syndicate with bountiful cash, a helpless Filipina bar girl (Nina Kodaka) – and tragic consequences. Now solitary, he has uprooted himself to the railside slums of the metropolis, wistfully fending for himself. Still hiding from his past, he rents out a small room, seemingly lost in the clutter of wandering souls desperate for survival. There, he spends his days anonymously roaming the congested streets selling food, and even giving them away for the hungry. But he mostly keeps to himself, even to the inquisitive Edna (Rosanna Roces), an aging bar girl with whom he occasionally shares his bed.
Acting
Jacky Woo's silence speaks volumes; Roces brings messy humanity.
Cinematography
Manila's rail slums shot with unflinching documentary intimacy.
Direction
Alix Jr. lets scenes breathe until discomfort becomes meditation.
Director
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Rare Filipino-Japanese co-production exploring Manila's rail slums, actual locations where thousands live beside active train tracks.
Jacky Woo, actual Japanese actor in Philippines, brings authentic displacement; his limited Tagalog mirrors Haruo's isolation.
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