Manila by Night

Banned from export at the time by Imelda Marcos herself, this was Ishmael Bernal's masterpiece: a deeply truthful celebration of the night street-life he knew and loved in all its squalor, pain and joy. The characters are authentic flaming creatures (fags, dykes, bisexuals, hookers of all genders, dopers, plus assorted petty criminals), some played by big stars like Solis and Martinez, others by friends or bit-player favourites of Bernal's. There's no doubt that the fashions and lifestyles have dated, but it remains impressive for its honesty and candour, its daringly original structure, its Cassavetes-worthy improvisations and its complete lack of phoney compassion for its fraught and wasted characters.