Kidlat Tahimik
Encyclopedia
Eric de Guia better known as Kidlat Tahimik (a Tagalog translation of "silent lightning
"), is a film director
, writer
and actor
whose films are commonly associated with the Third Cinema
movement through their critiques of neocolonialism
.
One of the most prominent names in the Filipino film industry, he has garnered various accolades locally and internationally, including a Plaridel
honorarium for Independent Cinema.
, where he was a member of the Student Council, then known as the University Student Union, from 1962 to 1963. While attending the university he became a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi
fraternity.
Kidlat Tahimik studied at the University of Pennsylvania
's Wharton School of Business, earned a Master in Business Administration, and worked as a researcher for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris
from 1968 to 1972.
, Philippines
, a summer resort
community established in the presence of several U.S. Military bases. This experience was a weighty influence on the themes of his films, most notably the semi-autobiographical Perfumed Nightmare (1977) and Turumba (1981). The latter of these two films provides some insight into the circumstances that brought him to Europe
and into the presence of filmmaker Werner Herzog
, who along with director
Francis Ford Coppola
and his American Zoetrope
studio, was instrumental in helping to release Perfumed Nightmare.
, Philippines
with his wife Katrin De Guia and their children. In February 2004 a fire was reported to have spread in their home. The family was able to escape safely, but the director's film stock
and collection of art
and artifacts
were destroyed.
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
"), is a film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
whose films are commonly associated with the Third Cinema
Third Cinema
Third Cinema is a Latin American film movement that started in the 1960s-70s which decries neocolonialism, the capitalist system, and the Hollywood model of cinema as mere entertainment to make money...
movement through their critiques of neocolonialism
Neocolonialism
Neocolonialism is the practice of using capitalism, globalization, and cultural forces to control a country in lieu of direct military or political control...
.
One of the most prominent names in the Filipino film industry, he has garnered various accolades locally and internationally, including a Plaridel
Plaridel
Plaridel can refer to:*the penname of Marcelo H. del Pilar*Arellano University – Plaridel Campus*J. Plaridel Silvestre World Organization of the Scout Movement Scouting notable, awardee of the Bronze Wolf in 1977...
honorarium for Independent Cinema.
Education
Tahimik attented the University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
, where he was a member of the Student Council, then known as the University Student Union, from 1962 to 1963. While attending the university he became a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi
Upsilon Sigma Phi
-History:The Upsilon Sigma Phi is the oldest Greek-letter fraternity in Asia . Nebulously formed in 1918.It was formally organized on November 19, 1920 in a meeting held at the Metropolitan Restaurant in Intramuros. Four months later, on March 24, 1921, the Greek letters ΥΣΦ standing for the...
fraternity.
Kidlat Tahimik studied at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's Wharton School of Business, earned a Master in Business Administration, and worked as a researcher for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1968 to 1972.
Influences
Tahimik grew up in Baguio CityBaguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
, 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...
, a summer resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
community established in the presence of several U.S. Military bases. This experience was a weighty influence on the themes of his films, most notably the semi-autobiographical Perfumed Nightmare (1977) and Turumba (1981). The latter of these two films provides some insight into the circumstances that brought him to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and into the presence of filmmaker Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
, who along with director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
and his American Zoetrope
American Zoetrope
American Zoetrope is a studio founded by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas. Founded on December 12, 1969, American Zoetrope was an early adopter of digital filmmaking, including some of the earliest uses of HDTV...
studio, was instrumental in helping to release Perfumed Nightmare.
Personal life
Kidlat lives in a 4-story home in BenguetBenguet
Benguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya....
, 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...
with his wife Katrin De Guia and their children. In February 2004 a fire was reported to have spread in their home. The family was able to escape safely, but the director's film stock
Film stock
Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...
and collection of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
were destroyed.
Director
- Mababangong bangungot ["Perfumed Nightmare"] (1977)
- Turumba (1981)
- Sinong lumikha ng yoyo? Sinong lumikha ng moon buggy? (1982)
- Orbit 50: Letters to My 3 Sons (1992)
- Why is Yellow Middle of Rainbow? (1994)
- Japanese Summers of a Filipino Fundoshi (1996)
- Our Film - Grimage to Guimaras (2006)
- BUBONG! (Roofs of the World! UNITE!) (2006)
- Memories of Overdevelopment 1980-2010 (1980–2010)
Producer
- Mababangong bangungot ["Perfumed Nightmare"] (1977)
- Abong: Small Home (2003)
Actor
- Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle (Every Man for Himself and God Against All)The Enigma of Kaspar HauserThe Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a 1974 West German drama film written and directed by Werner Herzog about the legend of Kaspar Hauser. Its original German title is Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle, which means "Every man for himself and God against them all"...
(1974) - Mababangong bangungot ["Perfumed Nightmare"] (1977)
- Jag rodnar ["I Am Blushing"] (1981)
- Smaragd (1987)
- Jose Rizal (1998)
- Abong: Small Home (2003)
Awards
- Berlin Film Festival International Critics Award: Perfumed Nightmare (1977)
- Mannheim Film Festival Top Cash Award: Turumba (1981)