Filipiñana

What it’s about

Isabel, a 17-year-old Ilocana worker at a country club outside Manila, finds a lost golf club and attempts to return it to the club's president. This act draws her into uncovering violent truths about her workplace, her country, and her own past.

What hooks you

Director Rafael Manuel, who also wrote the film, brings together a cast that includes Jorrybell Agoto as Isabel and Carmen Castellanos as Clara. The film draws on the setting of an elite country club during a drought, and it is based on a short film by the same director.

Who it’s for

It is worth a look for anyone who likes drama that mixes detective elements with comedy, and for those interested in stories about class divides and personal discovery in a Southeast Asian setting.