1981

A persistent suitor is stabbed to death by Salome, the wife of a coconut farmer. From the simple crime of passion, three conflicting versions of the truth are given - by Salome herself, by the people of the small fishing village, and by her own husband. Each version contributes a piece and facet of the truth, and slowly reveals to us the real character of Salome and her husband, and the true nature of their relationship.

Now that Cindy has reached the age of puberty, her mother Tonia would like to retire from prostitution to be able to give her daughter a decent life. But Cindy has already decided how to escape poverty - she, too, is going to sell her body. The plot about the love and conflict between mother and daughter whores serves as a vehicle for analyzing the illusions and aspirations of similar victims of deprivation and exploitation in the city.

The feud between the poor-but-respected Medranos and the wealthy, corrupt Sablantes dates back to the last war (Joaquin Sablante) was a collaborator, while Pablo Medrano was a guerilla leader). The feud erupts anew when the policeman Pepe Medrano shoots the youngest Sablante and when Pablo opposes Manolo Sablante's mayoral bid. Elected through fraud, Sablante has Pablo killed, thus beginning a string of murders and counter-murders which eventually wipes out both families.

Employing economy of means and the power of suggestion, director Mike de Leon effectively presents a highly visual and stark character study of a demented patriarch and retired policeman (Vic Silayan) and his acquiescent family. The old man's tight grip n his submissive wife (Charito Solis) and daughter (Charo Santos) is threatened when the young woman marries her fiance, driving the father to fits of jealousy and violence. Also a statement on tyranny and the use of terror by an authoritarian figure, an oblique criticism of the Marcos dictatorship.