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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's frank depiction of homosexuality, prostitution, drag queens 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. The Toronto Film Festival gave it a standing ovation. Due to being heavily censored the film was a box office disaster but an international festival and critical success.
| Macho Dancer | |
|---|---|
Movie Poster | |
| Directed by | Lino Brocka |
| Written by | Amado Lacuesta Ricardo Lee |
| Starring | Daniel Fernando Jaclyn Jose Allan Paule Jonard Abanco |
| Cinematography | Joe Totanes awards = |
Release date | 1988 |
Running time | 136 mins |
| Language | Tagalog |
The uncensored film is part of the permanent collection at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Brocka completed one other film before dying on 21 May 1991.
It is one of the most influential gay films from the Philippines. The film also unusually has a main hero killing a (crooked) police office and not being charged or anything else happen to him.
Alan Paule and other actors playing 'macho dancers' were trained by a real macho dancer for three months.
Screenplay
Abandoned by his American lover, (who finished his tour of duty in the country). Pol (Alan Paule) a poor, gay teenager from the mountains is forced to move to Manilla and support himself and his family by entering into the underground urban world of male strippers, prostitution, illegal drugs, sexual exploitation and slavery. Including a scene where two nude men take a shower together on stage at 'Mama Charlie's Bar'. Pol also meets police oppression, corruption and murder. His only real friend is a successful call boy, Noel (Daniel Fernando) who acts as his mentor. Noel is desperate for extra money to help his search for his missing sister.
- Daniel Fernando as Noel
- Allan Paule as Pol
- William Lorenzo as Dennis
- Jaclyn Jose as Bambi
- Princess Punzalan as Pining
- Timothy Diwa as Rolly
- Angelo Miguel as Jun
- Johnny Vicar as Kid
- Lucita Soriano as The Mother
- Joel Lamangan as Mother
- Bobby Sano as Greg
- Charlie Catalla as Mama Charlie
- Anthony Taylor as The Manager
- Tony Mabesa as Customer 1
- Ronald Mendoza as Customer 2
| Year | Film Festival/Award | Award | Category/Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Gawad Urian Awards | Best Actor | Daniel Fernando |
| 1990 | Gawad Urian Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Jacklyn Jose |
On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an average score of 78%, based on 81 views.
Kevin Thomas of L.A. Times in 1989 commented that the film is "very steamy both in gay and straight situations" and the "cast seems to be living rather than acting their roles".
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