Manila in the Claws of Light

Ligaya Paraiso (Hilda Koronel) left her village in Marinduque for Manila, and then the news from her simply stopped. Julio Madiaga (Bembol Roco), a young fisherman, follows her to the capital with nothing but her name and the hope of finding her. He takes work wherever the city offers it and sleeps wherever he can while he searches. Lino Brocka films Manila at street level, in grainy daylight, and keeps the camera close to Julio's face.