Amigo (film)
Encyclopedia
Amigo is a 2010 American drama film
written and directed by John Sayles
. The film takes place in the Philippines
in 1900 during the Philippine–American War. It is one of only a small handful of films directed by an American to address the war, the only other notable example being The Real Glory
.
of the barrio
of San Isidro in a rice-growing area of Luzon
. His brother Simón, head of the local guerrilla band, has forced the surrender of the Spanish guardia civil outpost and charged Rafael with the task of imprisoning the guardia Captain and the barrio
’s Spanish friar, Padre Hidalgo, in the name of the revolutionary government. But when the American troops chasing General Emilio Aguinaldo
arrive, the Spanish officer and Padre Hidalgo are freed, and a garrison under the command of Lieutenant Ike Compton is left to ‘protect’ the barrio. The American occupation policy now changes from ‘hearts and minds
’ to ‘concentration’ (what was called ‘hamletting’ during the Vietnam war
) and Rafael has to answer to both the Americans and the Filipino patriots, with deadly consequences.
The book will actually be called A Moment in the Sun, though the unrealized screenplay which inspired it was called Some Time in the Sun.
. It will also screen at the San Sebastián International Film Festival
and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.
In North America, the film will be released on August 19, 2011 by Variance Films
.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
written and directed by John Sayles
John Sayles
John Thomas Sayles is an American independent film director, screenwriter and author.-Early life:Sayles was born in Schenectady, New York, the son of Mary , a teacher, and Donald John Sayles, a school administrator. He was raised Catholic and took to labeling himself "a Catholic atheist"...
. The film takes place in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1900 during the Philippine–American War. It is one of only a small handful of films directed by an American to address the war, the only other notable example being The Real Glory
The Real Glory
The Real Glory is a 1939 Samuel Goldwyn Company action film starring Gary Cooper, David Niven, and Broderick Crawford released by United Artists in the weeks immediately following Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland. Based on a 1937 novel of the same name by Charles L...
.
Plot
Amigo centers on Rafael Dacanay, cabezaCabeza
Cabeza, sometimes cabeça, is a Spanish word meaning "head". In Mexican cuisine, it is used to describe the meat from a roasted head of a cow, served as a taco or burrito filling....
of the barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
of San Isidro in a rice-growing area of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
. His brother Simón, head of the local guerrilla band, has forced the surrender of the Spanish guardia civil outpost and charged Rafael with the task of imprisoning the guardia Captain and the barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
’s Spanish friar, Padre Hidalgo, in the name of the revolutionary government. But when the American troops chasing General Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
arrive, the Spanish officer and Padre Hidalgo are freed, and a garrison under the command of Lieutenant Ike Compton is left to ‘protect’ the barrio. The American occupation policy now changes from ‘hearts and minds
Hearts and Minds
Hearts and Minds may refer to:* A biblical quotation; see the Wikisource link-Film:* Hearts and Minds , a 1974 documentary film about the Vietnam War-Television:...
’ to ‘concentration’ (what was called ‘hamletting’ during the Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
) and Rafael has to answer to both the Americans and the Filipino patriots, with deadly consequences.
Cast
- Joel Torre as Rafael
- Chris CooperChris Cooper (actor)Christopher W. "Chris" Cooper is an American film actor. He became well known in the late 1990s. He has appeared in supporting performances in several major Hollywood films, including The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, Capote, The Town, The Kingdom, Syriana, October Sky, Seabiscuit, and...
as Col. Hardacre - Garret Dillahunt as Lt. Compton
- DJ Qualls as Zeke
- Yul VazquezYul VazquezYul Vázquez was born in Cuba. He is an actor and he is married to Linda Larkin.He has appeared as “Bob” in the Seinfeld episodes “The Soup Nazi”, “The Sponge” and “The Puerto Rican Day”....
as Padre Hidalgo - Lucas Neff as Shanker
- James Parks as Sgt. Runnels
- Dane DeHaanDane DeHaan- Biography :DeHaan got his start in Broadway Theatre as the understudy for Haley Joel Osment in American Buffalo. He made his television debut in 2008 with a guest appearance on Law & Order Special Victims Unit. He made his feature film debut in John Sayles' Amigo and recently starred as Jesse in...
as Gil - Stephen Taylor as Pvt. Bates
- Rio LocsinRio LocsinRio Locsin is the daughter of the movie actress Charito Garcia. Locsin appeared in sexy movies with Lorna Tolentino as her rival.She married Al Tantay, but they separated after a few years. Now she's married to a former basketball player, Padim Israel. She had 3 daughters, Paula & Jabba , and...
as Corazon - Jemi Paretas as Zuniga
- Bill Tangradi as Dutch
- Bembol RocoBembol RocoRafael Roco, Jr. is an award-winining Filipino actor whose work ranges from films to television. He is famous for his critically acclaimed role as Julio Madiaga in Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag. Though he acts in his country's films, he also had a small role in the 1982 Australian-U.S. film The...
as Policarpio - Ronnie LazaroRonnie LazaroRonnie Lazaro is a Gawad Urian Award-winning Filipino film and television actor, producer and casting and art director.-Television:* 2011 Wansapanataym: Darmo Adarna ... Darako * 2011 Maalaala Mo Kaya ... Papa...
as Simon - Irma Adlawan as Josefa
Press
Cinematical reports that the film was once titled Baryo, and that the idea for it came from a yet-to-be-published novel Some Time in the Sun, detailing U.S. imperialism in the Philippines.The book will actually be called A Moment in the Sun, though the unrealized screenplay which inspired it was called Some Time in the Sun.
Distribution
Amigo had its New York premier at the 2011 Asian American International Film Festival on August 10. It screened on September 14 at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival2010 Toronto International Film Festival
The 35th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 9 and September 19, 2010. The opening night gala presented Score: A Hockey Musical, a Canadian comedy-drama musical film. Last Night closed the festival on September 19.2010 TIFF included...
. It will also screen at the San Sebastián International Film Festival
San Sebastián International Film Festival
The San Sebastián International Film Festival is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of San Sebastián .-History:The festival was founded in 1953...
and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.
In North America, the film will be released on August 19, 2011 by Variance Films
Variance Films
Variance Films is a privately held film distribution company founded in 2008 that uses an innovative model of self-distribution combined with select elements of traditional theatrical distribution to allow filmmakers to achieve quality theatrical releases for their films...
.