| Dekada '70 | |
| Director: | Chito S. Roño |
| Producer: | Tess V. Fuentes |
| Music: | Nonong Buencamino |
| Cinematography: | Neil Daza |
| Editing: | Jess Navarro |
| Distributor: | Star Cinema |
| Runtime: | 131 minutes |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Language: | Filipino |
| Gross: | [1] |
Dekada '70 is a 2002 Filipino historical drama film directed by Chito S. Roño and based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Lualhati Bautista.[2] Set in the Philippines during the period of martial law under Ferdinand Marcos, the film follows the struggles of the middle-class Bartolome family. It stars Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon as parents raising five sons amidst the tense political background. Their sons are played by Piolo Pascual, Carlos Agassi, Marvin Agustin, Danilo Barrios, and John Wayne Sace.
The film is now restored in high-definition by the ABS-CBN Film Archives and Central Digital Lab.
A middle-class Manila neighborhood is home to the Bartolome family. Amanda and Julián Sr. are parents to sons Julian "Jules" Jr., Isagani "Gani", Emmanuel "Em", Jason and Benjamin "Bingo".
In 1965, as a young boy, Gani fights with his friend while playing a game in the street, their mothers come to stop the fighting and make them stay away from each other. In the streets of Manila, protests take place when the Philippines enters the Vietnam War. Five years later, president Ferdinand Marcos wins his re-election bid. Julián stops Amanda from looking for a job with Amanda intent on pursuing it. At dinner time, Jules and Gani speak about the upcoming Junior-Senior Prom. At the prom, Gani tries to grope his partner and gets kicked. The Bartolomes get stuck in traffic on the way home due to a protest with effigy burning near the Legislative Building.
A protest takes place at the University of the Philippines, where Jules with his best friend Willy become activists and join a dissident movement. At the same time, Emmanuel begins writing illegal exposés and other kinds of banned literature. During protests, attendees sing "Lupang Hinirang", with raised fists. The protesters outnumber the authorities but their efforts to make them leave become futile and they retreat. Julián becomes furious when he discovers their activities, and he angrily explains to Jules and Willy the consequences of their actions, the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and the disappearance of student leader Charlie del Rosario.
While taking a break from a basketball game in the yard, Gani reveals his plans to apply for a job in the United States Navy to Julian but is overheard by Jules, who admonishes his brother for lack of patriotism. Gani furiously refutes Jules' statements by stating that working for the US government entitles one to a high salary with numerous benefits. Julián accepts the plan, thus making Gani the family's newest breadwinner. Sometime later, another protest depicts president Marcos acting as a lackey to Uncle Sam, and crucifying a Filipino. One weekend, Bingo pulls down a flying kite, which Amanda discovers to be made out of copies of the Communist newspaper Ang Bayan. Julián discovers that Jules is an activist and he sneaks up to his room to check his rebellious pamphlets.
Marcos declares martial law, on television and radio. With the imposition of nighttime curfews to round up anyone suspected of being a subversive or communist to be imprisoned, the change of events results in interrogations, tortures, and deaths.
After Gani accidentally impregnates his girlfriend Evelyn, two police cars escort the Bartolomes to Evelyn's house where her father blackmails them into marrying her. On another night, Jules comes home late and confesses to his family that Willy was tortured to death for staying past curfew. He later reveals his plan to travel to Bicol and join the New People's Army despite his mother's opposition.
Evelyn gives birth to a baby girl. Sometime later, Gani leaves for the United States via Subic Bay, where his family and Evelyn see him off, the latter returning to her family. Emmanuel plans to go to Bataan to research an article on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant but Julián furiously opposes as the topic is a forbidden one under Martial Law.
Jules brings a wounded friend home for care, as a hospital would arouse too much suspicion, but leaves two days later. After two months of not returning, Jules is revealed to have been married to fellow rebel Mara, who bears a baby boy. One night, the family burns Jules' anti-government pamphlets at his request. While burning the pamphlets, they are visited by Christmas carollers who they momentarily mistake for authorities.
Amanda receives a phone call informing her that Jules has been imprisoned. She and Julian visit Jules in prison where he recounts his experience with torture and solitary confinement. During Christmas, Jules' family, including his parents and siblings along with his wife and son, visit him in prison, and his fellow inmates sing Christmas songs.
Amanda is involved with a non-government organization reaching out to families of victims of human rights abuse.
Amanda and Julian search for Jason whose whereabouts are unknown after a night of being out. Emmanuel joins in the search and discovers in a morgue that his brother's body was found inside Manila Zoo with multiple stab wounds. Amanda, not knowing what Emmanuel has found, berates him for coming home late while drunk. Emmanuel tells his father of his discovery and Julian attempts suicide in grief. Jules attends the wake in handcuffs and in tears.
Amanda and Julian blame each other on their son's death and on the verge of separation, are interrupted by news that Jules is finally released from prison. The family reunites at dinner, with Jules' wife and son, and Evelyn and her daughter. Jules announces to the family that he will be returning to the revolution, which Julian accepts and wishes him good luck. Eventually, Amanda and Julian get emotional and reconcile. In the end, Amanda attends a play about the revolution written by her son Emmanuel himself, which begins with "Lupang Hinirang".
In 1983, the Bartolome family attend the wake of Ninoy Aquino at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City after his assassination. Amanda joins a large group of activists at the Post Office Building to overthrow the Marcos regime once and for all. The Marcos regime is peacefully overthrown during the 1986 People Power Revolution, and Corazon Aquino is sworn into office as president.
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| Year | Award-Giving Body | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Metro Manila Film Festival[3] | Second Best Picture | Dekada '70 | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Piolo Pascual | |||
| Best Child Performer | John Wayne Sace |