Philippines auteur Brillante Mendoza’s film “Pula” has set a world premiere on Netflix.
The narrative unfolds in the devoutly Catholic town of Pula and examines themes of faith, fanaticism, and vigilante justice.
In the film, the tranquil life of Senior Master Sergeant Danilo Faraon (Coco Martin) and his family get upended by a tragic event that shakes the foundations of their close-knit community. A teenage girl’s murder propels Faraon into a vortex of deception, betrayal and guilt, leading him down a path of retribution against those he perceives to have wronged him and the townsfolk of Pula.
The cast also includes Julia Montes, Raymart Santiago, Lotlot De Leon, Alan Paule, Elizabeth Oropesa, Christine Bermas, Ina Alegre and Vince Rillon.
Mendoza, who won best director at Cannes in 2009 for “Kinatay,” is a festival regular and continues to explore societal issues via his films.
“The premiere of ‘Pula’ on Netflix...
The narrative unfolds in the devoutly Catholic town of Pula and examines themes of faith, fanaticism, and vigilante justice.
In the film, the tranquil life of Senior Master Sergeant Danilo Faraon (Coco Martin) and his family get upended by a tragic event that shakes the foundations of their close-knit community. A teenage girl’s murder propels Faraon into a vortex of deception, betrayal and guilt, leading him down a path of retribution against those he perceives to have wronged him and the townsfolk of Pula.
The cast also includes Julia Montes, Raymart Santiago, Lotlot De Leon, Alan Paule, Elizabeth Oropesa, Christine Bermas, Ina Alegre and Vince Rillon.
Mendoza, who won best director at Cannes in 2009 for “Kinatay,” is a festival regular and continues to explore societal issues via his films.
“The premiere of ‘Pula’ on Netflix...
- 5/3/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Sid Lucero, Kokoy De Santos, Vin Abrenica, Gerard Acao, Rosh Barman, Kayley Carrigan, Enchong Dee | Written by Jim Flores, Will Fredo, Richard Somes | Directed by Richard Somes
A Special Forces operative suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is discharged from the army due to his extreme medical condition. Finding employment as a security guard, his world is turned upside down when he finds himself embroiled in a different kind of urban war after a young woman seeks protection from a corrupt police death squad working for one of the most brutal drug cartels. As the pair continues to fight for their lives, the man must confront his inner demons and earn the redemption he desperately craves…
Set in the Philippines and opening with the kind of jungle-based action not scene since the 80s heyday of filmmakers like Teddy Page and Cirio H. Santiago – filmmakers who capitalised...
A Special Forces operative suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is discharged from the army due to his extreme medical condition. Finding employment as a security guard, his world is turned upside down when he finds himself embroiled in a different kind of urban war after a young woman seeks protection from a corrupt police death squad working for one of the most brutal drug cartels. As the pair continues to fight for their lives, the man must confront his inner demons and earn the redemption he desperately craves…
Set in the Philippines and opening with the kind of jungle-based action not scene since the 80s heyday of filmmakers like Teddy Page and Cirio H. Santiago – filmmakers who capitalised...
- 8/31/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
"War isn't the world's fault. War is man's making." Raven Banner has revealed an official US trailer for an indie action film titled Triggered in English, from Filipino filmmaker Richard Somes. This trailer doesn't hold back! It's insanely gory and brutally violent. The film is premiering at the 2023 Locarno Film Festival underway now in Switzerland, with an expected release later this year in the US. Here's the festival's intro: Discharged from the army due to post-traumatic stress disorder, Miguel gets embroiled in a different kind of war when a drug peddler seeks his protection against a vigilante death squad. All the while he must confront his own demons in order to earn his redemption. Arjo Atayde stars as an Ex-Special Forces security guard who attempts to save the life of a woman who is being hunted by a corrupt police death squad working for a drug cartel. The Filipino action...
- 8/7/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Raven Banner Entertainment continues to rack up sales for Richard V. Somes’ action spectacle “Topakk.”
“Topakk”(“Trigger”) has been sold to Aud (South Korea), Superfine Films (India), Kinologistika (Cis and the Baltics) and Lighthouse (German-speaking Europe).
It’s not the end of good news, as the film – debuting its trailer and produced by Fusee, with Strawdogs Studio Production and Nathan Studios co-producing – is also set to bow at Locarno next week.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I have never imagined it,” admits the director.
In “Topakk,” which he co-wrote with Jim Flores and Will Fredo, Somes shows a man struggling with Ptsd. Discharged from the army, he finds himself in the middle of a different kind of conflict when a drug peddler seeks his protection against a vigilante death squad.
“I am really inspired by the 1980s action films. It all started with ‘First Blood’ or even [Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer] ‘Commando.
“Topakk”(“Trigger”) has been sold to Aud (South Korea), Superfine Films (India), Kinologistika (Cis and the Baltics) and Lighthouse (German-speaking Europe).
It’s not the end of good news, as the film – debuting its trailer and produced by Fusee, with Strawdogs Studio Production and Nathan Studios co-producing – is also set to bow at Locarno next week.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I have never imagined it,” admits the director.
In “Topakk,” which he co-wrote with Jim Flores and Will Fredo, Somes shows a man struggling with Ptsd. Discharged from the army, he finds himself in the middle of a different kind of conflict when a drug peddler seeks his protection against a vigilante death squad.
“I am really inspired by the 1980s action films. It all started with ‘First Blood’ or even [Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer] ‘Commando.
- 8/4/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Action thriller, “Trigger” from writer-director Richard Somes has wrapped production and is beginning sales at the European Film Market.
“Trigger” (aka “Tokakk”) tells the story of a lonely security guard (portrayed by Arjo Atayde) previously discharged from the military due to his post-traumatic stress disorder. He finds himself embroiled in a different kind of war when a young woman (Julia Montes) seeks his protection against a corrupt police death squad. While the pair fight for their lives, the man must confront his inner demons to earn his redemption.
The film also stars Arjo Atayde (“Cattleya Killer”), Julia Montes (“Brothers”), Sid Lucero (“The End of History”) and Kokoy De Santos (“Game Boy”) and is produced by Wilfredo C. Manalang of Fusee (the company that co-produced Cannes Camera d’Or prize-winner “Plan 75”), Somes of Strawdog Studio Production, Ria Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez from Nathan Studios and Michaelangelo Masangkay, co-owner of Toronto-based...
“Trigger” (aka “Tokakk”) tells the story of a lonely security guard (portrayed by Arjo Atayde) previously discharged from the military due to his post-traumatic stress disorder. He finds himself embroiled in a different kind of war when a young woman (Julia Montes) seeks his protection against a corrupt police death squad. While the pair fight for their lives, the man must confront his inner demons to earn his redemption.
The film also stars Arjo Atayde (“Cattleya Killer”), Julia Montes (“Brothers”), Sid Lucero (“The End of History”) and Kokoy De Santos (“Game Boy”) and is produced by Wilfredo C. Manalang of Fusee (the company that co-produced Cannes Camera d’Or prize-winner “Plan 75”), Somes of Strawdog Studio Production, Ria Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez from Nathan Studios and Michaelangelo Masangkay, co-owner of Toronto-based...
- 2/19/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Raven Banner Entertainment has boarded action thriller Trigger (Topakk), directed by the Philippines’ Richard Somes, to executive produce and handle international sales.
Currently in production, the film stars Arjo Atayde (Cattleya Killer), Julia Montes (Brothers), Sid Lucero (The End Of History) and Kokoy De Santos (Game Boy).
Wilfredo C. Manalang of Philippines production house Fusee is producing the film with Somes’ Strawdogs Studio Production, Ria Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez for Nathan Studios and Michaelangelo Masangkay and Fernando Henna for Toronto-based post sound house, Theo & Atlas Productions Inc.
Atayde plays a security guard previously discharged from the military due to post-traumatic stress disorder. He finds himself embroiled in a different kind of war when a young woman (Montes) seeks his protection against a corrupt police death squad.
Fusee previously co-produced Japanese drama Plan 75, which is Japan’s submission to the best international feature category of the Oscars. The company also...
Currently in production, the film stars Arjo Atayde (Cattleya Killer), Julia Montes (Brothers), Sid Lucero (The End Of History) and Kokoy De Santos (Game Boy).
Wilfredo C. Manalang of Philippines production house Fusee is producing the film with Somes’ Strawdogs Studio Production, Ria Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez for Nathan Studios and Michaelangelo Masangkay and Fernando Henna for Toronto-based post sound house, Theo & Atlas Productions Inc.
Atayde plays a security guard previously discharged from the military due to post-traumatic stress disorder. He finds himself embroiled in a different kind of war when a young woman (Montes) seeks his protection against a corrupt police death squad.
Fusee previously co-produced Japanese drama Plan 75, which is Japan’s submission to the best international feature category of the Oscars. The company also...
- 11/2/2022
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
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