Filipino Films That Celebrate Women Empowerment

March caps the celebration of Women’s Month. What better way to celebrate than to watch films that reflect feminism? Surely this is one way to honor women’s strength and power.

It is not an easy task to find films that represent women as more than just objects of desire but rather fully fleshed out women who are human. For several decades the image of the “strong woman” has been popularly equated to being physically strong. Women could be physically strong but it was always coupled with toughness which made them less likable characters. Also, the depictions on Filipino films only scratch the surface and fall short when representing how diverse women are in reality.

In today’s cinema, women continue to empower fellow women and thrive to smash the patriarchy in the Philippines through this kind of medium. 

Filipino Films That Reflect Women Empowerment

Kisapmata

Mike de Leon’s Kisapmata leaves nothing but silence as everything happens as fast as a blink of an eye. It deals with a traditional Filipino patriarchal household that challenges machismo. The fact that this movie is based on a real-life murder in the 1960s makes it more extreme.

Barber’s Tales (Mga Kuwentong Barbero)

Set in the 70s, this film depicts the story of a widow that condemns patriarchy. It shows the ability of women to stand up and take the challenge of society while they are in their most vulnerable phase. Barber’s Tales seeks to discover the tale of voiceless women in an age of political upheaval.

Liway

Liway comes from the true story of the director that tackles how her mother protected her from the prison camp during the Marcos regime. This film exhibits the courage to protect her son’s innocence with all the horrors it may surround his child. Therefore, this is not only a love letter to his mother, but to every woman who endures all odds for their children.

Fan Girl

A film made by a team of women is something we need to see in the Philippine cinema, and Fan Girl is one of the first to do it. The story revolves around the concept of fandom from a feminist viewpoint. It dares to destroy toxic masculinity that oppresses women’s voices.

Buy Bust

A female lead actor in Filipino movies remains lacking. Buy Bust shows us a commentary of the Philippines ‘ “War on Drugs” during the Duterte regime. Anne Curtis plays the role of a one-woman team as she fights against the group of riots and gunfights in the slums. This goes to show that women are capable of taking roles in movies that require physical strength.

Filipino films that celebrate women fulfill that passion and give it a positive outlet—and for good reason. Therefore, feminism in these Filipino films is more than just female empowerment. It’s the celebration of women seeing themselves as equals, allowing them to be flawed and complex.