SYNOPSIS

In Itim, Jun arrived at a remote village to visit his paralyzed father, Dr. Tores, and to photograph the religious practices during the Holy Week. There, he met Teresa, another woman who lives in the village along with her mother. Itim features an immersive atmosphere of Catholic theming and imagery. The use of prayer and observance of sacred rituals for occasions of Lent and the Holy Week is ossified into the film, as it becomes apparent that the perpetuation of traditions is ingrained in the family.  Film critic Tony Rayns noted that the film “established de Leon overnight and set new technical standards for Filipino cinema”.

Mike de Leon is a Filipino director, cinematographer, scriptwriter, and film producer who often blend genres such as melodrama, crime, and supernatural horror; and interrogate critical issues such as corruption, feudalist exploitation, and populist machismo which reflects the colonial legacies of the Philippines and the impact of dictatorships.