Macho Dancer
Encyclopedia
Macho Dancer is a 1988 Philippine film, directed Lino Brocka
, which explores the harsh realities of a young, poor, rural gay man, who after being dumped by his American boyfriend, is forced to make a living for himself in Manila
's seamy red-light district
. Based on a true story, the film frank depiction of homosexuality, prostitution, drag queen
s and crooked cops, porno
movie-making and sexual slavery, and drugs and violence caused the Filipino
government censors to order extensive edits of the film, forcing an uncensored edition to be smuggled out of the Philippines
and shown to a limited number of international film festivals. This print is now part of the permanent collection at The Museum of Modern Art
in New York
[Images in the Dark: An Encyclopedia of Gay and Lesbian Film and Video. 1994. Raymond Murray]
lover, a poor, gay teenager from the mountains is forced to support himself and his family by entering into the underground urban world of male strippers, prostitution, illegal drugs, sexual exploitation and slavery, as well police oppression, corruption and murder. His only real friend is a successful selal bahagia
Lino Brocka
Catalino Ortiz Brocka is known as one of the greatest film directors of the Philippines. Brocka was openly homosexual and many of his films incorporated LGBT themes into their often dramatic storylines....
, which explores the harsh realities of a young, poor, rural gay man, who after being dumped by his American boyfriend, is forced to make a living for himself in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
's seamy red-light district
Red-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
. Based on a true story, the film frank depiction of homosexuality, prostitution, drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
s and crooked cops, porno
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
movie-making and sexual slavery, and drugs and violence caused the Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
government censors to order extensive edits of the film, forcing an uncensored edition to be smuggled out of 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...
and shown to a limited number of international film festivals. This print is now part of the permanent collection at The Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
[Images in the Dark: An Encyclopedia of Gay and Lesbian Film and Video. 1994. Raymond Murray]
Synopsis
Abandoned by his AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lover, a poor, gay teenager from the mountains is forced to support himself and his family by entering into the underground urban world of male strippers, prostitution, illegal drugs, sexual exploitation and slavery, as well police oppression, corruption and murder. His only real friend is a successful selal bahagia
Awards
| Year | Film Festival/Award | Award | Category/Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Gawad Urian Awards Gawad Urian Awards The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines held since 1977. It is given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and is currently regarded as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle.... |
Best Actor | Daniel Fernando |
| 1990 | Gawad Urian Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Jacklyn Jose |