Jaguar (1979)
Directed by Lino Brocka
Genres - Drama, Romance |
Sub-Genres - Crime Drama, Post-Noir (Modern Noir), Urban Drama |
Run Time - 100 min. |
Countries - Philippines |
MPAA Rating - NR
Share on
Synopsis by Sandra Brennan
In this film noir from the Philippines, Poldo (Philip Salvador), a poor man, becomes a security guard in a posh apartment house to help his family. Trouble ensues after he saves resident Sonny (Mengie Colarribias) from a corrupt nightclub owner's attack. The grateful resident offers Poldo a job as his bodyguard. Unbeknownst to Poldo, his new employer publishes porno magazines and is just as corrupt as his attacker. He soon discovers that the men were fighting over Cristy (Amy Austria) a woman whom Poldo is now supposed to protect. Poldo and Cristy feel a sexual attraction and act upon it. Not long after that, a gang war erupts into violence and Poldo kills a man. Later his boss offers to save him and his family in exchange for his silence. With its main character trapped in an amoral world, Jaguar has a true noir sensibility and mood of grim determinism. This is one of the few Filipino films to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was well-received.
Characteristics
Themes
Keywords
bodyguard, security-guard, sexual-attraction, pornography, protection