| The Masseur Masahista | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Brillante Mendoza |
| Screenplay by | Boots Agbayani S. Pastor |
| Story by |
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| Based on | An original story by Ferdinand Lapus |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Herbert Navasca |
| Music by | Jerrold Tarog |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | GMA Films [1] |
Release date |
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Running time | 76 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Languages | |
The Masseur (Filipino : Masahista) is a 2005 Filipino psychological drama film [2] directed by Brillante Mendoza (in his directorial debut) from a story he co-wrote with Boots Agbayani Pastor, who solely wrote the screenplay. [3]
Iliac is a young masseur who works in Manila. One day, he travels back to his home in Pampanga and finds out that his bedridden father is dead. Iliac assists in the preparation of his father's burial, and discovers a new relationship with one of his clients.
The film has received a mixed reception, with Lucas Pistilli of Dirty Movies and Jay Weissberg of Variety giving a negative review, criticizing the film for its story, visuals, and the characters' lack of depth.
Panos Kotzathanasis of Asian Movie Pulse gave a positive review, praising its "intriguing narrative" and Coco Martin's "great performance."
The film's juxtaposition editing technique was also given praise, with both the funeral procession and massage scenes mixed together. [3] [4] [5]
In August 2025, the film received a resurgence in popularity after multiple Facebook meme pages and users began to share a series of memes highlighting an image macro of Iliac (played by Coco Martin) saying "Sir, tapos na po." (transl. Sir, it is done.) to his client Alfredo (played by Alan Paule) after a massage session. [6] [ better source needed ]
| Year | Film Festival/Award | Award | Category/Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Young Critics Circle, Philippines | Best Movie | |
| 2006 | Young Critics Circle, Philippines | Best Actor | Coco Martin |
| 2006 | Brisbane Filmfest, Australia | Interfaith Award | |
| 2005 | 58th Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland | Golden Leopard award | Video competition |
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