Brutal (film)

Brutal
Directed by	Marilou Diaz-Abaya
Written by	Ricky Lee
Produced by	Rolando S. Atienza Simon C. Ongpin Jesse Ejercito
Starring	Amy Austria Charo Santos Jay Ilagan
Cinematography	Manalo Abaya
Edited by	Manalo Abaya
Music by	George Canseco
Production company	Bancom Audiovision
Distributed by	Bancom Audiovision
Release date	1980 (1980)
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Brutal is a 1980 Filipino film directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya with a screenplay by Ricky Lee.

It was the first major Filipino film to tackle rape as a feminist issue. ^[1] Brutal was followed by Moral (1982) and Karnal (1983), a loose trilogy of feminist films directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and written by Ricky Lee.

Plot

Housewife Monica Real is arrested for killing three men including her husband Tato. Clara Valdez is a journalist searching for the truth why Monica was driven to kill them and remain silent by refusing to speak to her family and her lawyer. With the help of her boyfriend, Jake, Clara seeks information from Monica's best friend, Cynthia and Monica's mother to find out answers.

Cast

• Amy Austria as Monica Real
• Gina Alajar as Cynthia
• Charo Santos as Clara Valdez
• Jay Ilagan as Tato
• Perla Bautista as Aling Charing
• Joonee Gamboa as Defense Attorney
• Johnny Delgado as Jake
• Nello Nayo as Mang Juaning
• Roberto Tongco as Choreographer
• Boy Sabiniano as Eric
• Ogie Martinez as Ogie
• Jun Villena as Jimmy

Production

After the success of her directorial debut Tanikala (1980), Marilou Diaz-Abaya was approached by producer Jesse Ejercito to direct a film for him starring Amy Austria, who had recently distinguished herself in the 1979 Lina Brocka film Jaguar . ^[2]

Reception

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
1980	Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Film	Brutal	Nominated
		Best Director	Marilou Diaz-Abaya	Won
		Best Actress	Amy Austria	Won
1981	FAMAS Awards	Best Picture	Brutal	Nominated
		Best Director	Marilou Diaz-Abaya	Nominated
		Best Actor	Jay Ilagan	Nominated
		Best Actress	Amy Austria	Won
		Best Supporting Actress	Gina Alajar	Nominated
	Gawad Urian Awards	Best Picture (Pinakamahusay na Pelikula)	Brutal	Nominated
		Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon)	Marilou Diaz-Abaya	Nominated
		Best Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor)	Johnny Delgado	Nominated
		Best Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktres)	Amy Austria	Nominated
			Gina Alajar	Won
		Best Supporting Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor)	Johnny Delgado	Nominated
		Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula)	Ricky Lee	Nominated
		Best Editing (Pinakamahusay na Editing)	Manalo Abaya, Marc Tanarte	Nominated
		Best Sound (Pinakamahusay na Tunog)	Amang Sanchez, Rolly Ruta	Nominated

References

1. Pareja, Lena (1994). "Brutal". Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art.
2. Quito, Gil (July 23, 2013). "MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA, OBSESSIONS AND TRANSITIONS: A Biographical Survey". Asian CineVision.