The Real Gun-Slinging Death Squads: “Engkwentro”

The Filipino film “Engkwentro” (Clash) which portrays the life within a real-life vigilante group supposedly backed by a politically powerful figure is named as Best Debut Film in the Orizzonti competition of the 66th Venice Film Festival that has just ended.¹ The film by 22-year director Pepe Diokno has also won the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for a debut film. Here’s a video clip from the producer’s website.²

This year’s Venice Film Festival is dominated by political themes, according to Reuters, reporting also today that video artist Shirin Neshat from Iran is best director Silver Lion for "Women Without Men". The film is about the experience of four women in Iran's 1953 coup, which draws clear parallels to recent protests that have caught the headlines.³

¹Ricky Lo, “RP film wins in Venice”, The Philippine Star
²EngkwentroMovieMultiply.com
³Mike Collett-White and Silvia Aloisi, “Political passions run high at Venice film festival”, Reuters India