| Manila by Night | |
| Director: | Ishmael Bernal |
| Producer: | Lily Y. Monteverde |
| Music: | The Vanishing Tribe |
| Editing: | Augusto Salvador |
| Studio: | Regal Films |
| Distributor: | Regal Films |
| Runtime: | 151 minutes |
| Country: | Philippines |
Manila by Night (initially released as City After Dark) is a 1980 Filipino drama film directed by Ishmael Bernal from a script by Bernal and Ricky Lee, and stars Gina Alajar and Charito Solis. Released at the height of the Marcos regime, the film uncovers the other face of Manila by depicting the ugly aspects of life in the city – unemployment, prostitution, drug addiction and lack of decent housing. Considered one of Bernal's masterpieces, it is an epic multi-narrative of people who have shady pasts and are trying to exist in an unforgiving world.[1]
The film's events take place in the course of several nights, involving various protagonists and the city itself.
Lily Monteverde of Regal Films approached Ishmael Bernal to direct a large-scale production to commemorate the second anniversary of the production outfit. Bernal had previously directed Salawahan for Monteverde's Regal Films. For the production, Bernal came up with a sequence list, based on different locales, but decided to have the scenes improvised by a cast assembled from Regal Film's stable, as well as industry friends.[2]
The film was restored in 4K resolution by the Philippine Film Archive, the film archives division of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and Central Digital Lab as part of the "Save Our Cinema Restoation Program".[3] The restored version was premiered as part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2020 exhibition.[4]
The film's original title is Manila by Night, but was later renamed to City After Dark for its initial release. Former first lady Imelda Marcos asked for the title to be changed and that the film be banned for export, believing that the film "maligns her city". The film has since been considered as Ishmael Bernal's masterpiece.[5] [6]
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| Year | Group | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Gawad Urian Awards | Best Picture | Manila by Night | |
| Best Actor | Bernardo Bernardo | |||
| Best Screenplay | Ishmael Bernal | |||
| Best Production Design | Peque Gallaga[7] [8] | |||
| Best Director | Ishmael Bernal | |||
| Best Actress | Cherie Gil | |||
| Rio Locsin | ||||
| Best Music | Vanishing Tribe |