PHL 1982 | Director: Marilou Diaz-Abaya | Screenplay: Ricardo Lee | Camera: Manolo Abaya | Editing: Manolo Abaya, Marc Tarnate | Sound: Amang Sanchez | Music: George Canseco | Cast: Lorna Tolentino, Gina Alajar, Sandy Andolong, Anna Marin, Ronald Bregendahl, Juan Rodrigo, Michael Sandico, Laurice Guillen, Mia Gutierrez, Lito Pimentel, Odette Khan, Dexter Doria, Manny Luna | Production: Jesse Ejercito, Seven Stars Production | Colour | DCP | 138 Min. | filipino, english OV with english SUB | ABS-CBN

Diaz-Abaya's coming-of-age film – the screenplay was written by Ricky Lee, with whom she often collaborated – tells the story of four college friends across years and time jumps: singer Kathy has a lot of ambition but little singing talent; Joey drifts between drugs, men, and the student activist she loves. Maritess wants to be a writer, but lives in a violent marriage. Sylvia cannot let go of her ex-husband, who in turn loves a male dancer. The colegialas are growing up during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. The film was made one year after martial law was officially lifted in the Philippines. The film's underlying theme is that private and political matters are closely intertwined, as are moral concepts and gender roles. Against the “morality” of repressive (gender) ideologies and notions of guilt, shame, and female self-sacrifice, Dias-Abaya uses her characters to present a different kind of “morality”. Friendship and solidarity offer a glimpse of a life beyond patriarchal control and stigma. Or, specifically: autonomous professional development, escape from marriage, polyamorous queer relationships, emotional healing. (Gaby Babić)

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