Lino Brocka’s restored classic ‘Jaguar’ opens Sinag Maynila 2025

September 23 ------ Sinag Maynila rolls out its seventh edition today, Sept. 23, at Gateway Cinema 5, with the Asian premiere of the newly restored 4K version of Lino Brocka’s 1979 neo-noir masterpiece “Jaguar.” This marks the Philippine homecoming of “Jaguar” following its international debut at the 16th Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, late last year.

The restored print is the result of a collaboration between the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Philippine Film Archive (PFA) and Cité de Mémoire. Original crew and cast members are expected to grace the opening night, which culminates with a talkback session after the screening.

Festival founder Wilson Tieng stressed the importance of choosing the late National Artist’s work to kick off the week-long filmfest. “Its selection as the opening film for Sinag Maynila 2025 highlights the importance of film preservation, connecting the past with the future of Philippine cinema,” he told The STAR. “As a producer of Filipino films for over 44 years and as a fan of Filipino cinema, it truly brings back many fond memories seeing classics back on the big screen.”

Released over four decades ago, “Jaguar” made history as the first-ever Filipino film to be in contention for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1980. Inspired by a story from Nick Joaquin’s non-fiction collection Reportage on Crime, the screenplay was penned by Jose “Pete” Lacaba and National Artist Ricky Lee.

Phillip Salvador topills “Jaguar” as Poldo, a security guard drawn into a world of danger and crime after taking on the job of protecting the son of a rich family. Amy Austria plays his love interest in the film. The screening of “Jaguar” forms part of the Philippine Film Industry Month celebration this September, under the Pambansang Alagad ng Sining section, which highlights restored works of National Artists. Alongside Brocka’s “Jaguar,” audiences will get to experience the restored version of the 1978 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture winner “Atsay,” directed by Eddie Garcia and headlined by National Artist for Film Nora Aunor. The movie was given a new life in 2022 via the FDCP’s Film Restoration Program.

Source: philstar.com