“Moro,” a tale of fractious fraternal relations that debuted last year in the Jiseok section of the Busan International Film Festival, has begun airing on Netflix in Southeast Asia, including director Brillante Mendoza’s native Philippines.
In other territories, the film’s rights are being represented by Manila-based finance, production and sales firm Fire and Ice.
With a screenplay by Honeylyn Joy Alipio, and production by Mendoza’s Center Stage Productions, “Moro” tells a story about a widowed mother (played by Laurice Guillen) who tries to reconcile two brothers who are feuding over a piece of disputed land in Mindanao. The older brother is diligent and responsible, the younger one has squandered his savings on gambling. After the semblance of agreement is reached, government intervention throws the region into turbulence and reveals that even those closest to us may become the most destructive enemies.
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In addition to the veteran Guillen, the film stars singer-actor-model Piolo Pascual (“Mallari,” “Pieta”) and Mendoza-regular Baron Geisler (“Ma Rosa,” “Alpha, The Right to Kill”).
Mendoza’s previous film “Pula” (aka ‘Red”) was similarly picked up for Netflix in limited territories and represented by Fire and Ice. The narrative unfolds in the devoutly Catholic town of Pula and examines themes of faith, fanaticism, and vigilante justice.
Mendoza, who is one of the biggest names in Asian art cinema, with awards including the Locarno Golden Leopard for 2005 film “Masahitsa” and the Cannes best director award for 2009’s “Kinatay,” is currently immersed in two other projects.
Production of Japan-set, transgender gangster tale “Chameleon” is currently paused. Mendoza told PvNew that it will resume in Japan’s Kitakyushu in October.
He is also getting ready for a Los Angeles production of “Cocoon” in 2025. The film is a drama about a couple who plan an inter-faith marriage, but run into cultural differences involving the man’s Jewish family who object to the woman’s Catholicism.
