Death March (film)

Last updated
Death March
Directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr.
Written byRody Vera
Produced byJacky Woo
Starring
CinematographyAlbert Banzon
Edited byBenjamin Gonzales Tolentino
Music by4 + 1
Production
companies
  • Forward Entertainment
  • Phoenix Features
Distributed byÉquation Distribution
Release date
  • May 19, 2013 (2013-05-19)(Cannes)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Death March (Filipino : Martsang kamatayan) is a 2013 Philippine war drama directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. [1]

Contents

Cast

Production

The film was shot in black and white, and used hand-painted backdrops. [2] [3] Film director Adolfo Alix, Jr. initially decided to film on location, but decided to shoot with artificial sets after consulting with the production designer to "heighten the surreal feeling of the film". Fifteen artists hand-painted the backdrops for around two months, and the film exceeded its budget. [4]

When asked on his motivations to create to film, the director mentioned that he found grandfather's anecdotes on the Second World War interesting, and that he considered Death March a suitable conclusion to a trilogy of his previous films Liberation and Kalayaan. [5]

Reception

The film intended to provide viewers a "surreal, barbaic experience" through slow-motion and black and white cinematography, for Variety's Justin Chang. However, the film did not gain its intended effects for several "over-literal touches" in its writing. [6] The Hollywood Reporter's Todd McCarthy commends the film's cinematography and soundtrack to achieve a sense of "hallucinatory claustrophobia", but noted repetitiveness is its elements that compromises its impact. The film's characters lacked personal stories, which would have drawn viewers attention for McCarthy. [7]

References

  1. ↑ "2013 Official Selection". Cannes. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  2. ↑ Press, Teesa Cerojano (May 13, 2013). "Film takes new look at Bataan Death March". Santa Fe New Mexican . Associated Press . Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (May 20, 2013). "Death March: Cannes Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Filipino director takes new look at Bataan march". San Diego Union-Tribune. May 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sam Milby attends world premiere of Death March at the 66th Cannes Film Fest". PEP.ph. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ Chang, Justin (May 19, 2013). "Cannes Film Review: 'Death March'". Variety . Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  7. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (May 20, 2013). "Death March: Cannes Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 6, 2025.
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