VARIANCE FILMS ANNOUNCES “AMIGO” NATIONAL RELEASE
IN US THEATERS
PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR THE FOCUS OF WRITER/DIRECTOR JOHN SAYLES FILM
AMIGO, the much-anticipated independent feature by acclaimed filmmaker John Sayles, will be distributed in theaters across the United States by Variance Films.
Set during the Philippine-American War at the turn of the previous century and filmed entirely in The Philippines, AMIGO -- the 17th feature film from Academy Award-nominated writer-director Sayles -- features a stellar international ensemble cast.
AMIGO stars Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper, Garrett Dillahunt (“Winter’s Bone,” “No Country For Old Men”), Tony nominee Yul Vazquez (“The A-Team,” “War of the Worlds”), DJ Qualls (“Hustle and Flow”) and among the more decorated and respected thespians from The Philippines in Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Ronnie Lazaro, Bembol Roco and Arthur Acuna.
Rafael Dacanay (Joel Torre) is a village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the Philippine-American War. When U.S. troops occupy his village, Rafael comes under pressure from a tough-as-nails officer (Chris Cooper) to help the Americans in their hunt for Filipino guerilla fighters. But Rafael’s brother (Ronnie Lazaro) is the head of the local guerillas, and considers anyone who cooperates with the Americans to be a traitor. Rafael quickly finds himself forced to make the impossible, potentially deadly decisions faced by ordinary civilians in an occupied country. A powerful drama of friendship, betrayal, romance and heartbreaking violence, AMIGO is a page torn from the rarely-filmed history of the Philippines and America, and a mirror of today’s irresolvable global conflicts.
AMIGO opens for week-long runs at in the following cities and dates:
August 19
New York, NY AMC Empire 25
Bergenfield, NJ Clearview Bergenfield
Las Vegas Regal Village Square 18
Los Angeles Laemmle Monica (Santa Monica)
Los Angeles Edwards Cerritos 10 (Cerritos)
Los Angeles AMC Puente Hills 20 (West Covina)
San Diego UA Horton Plaza 14
San Francisco UA Stonestown Twin (Daly City)
San Francisco Cinemark Union Landing 25 (Union City)
San Jose Century 20 Great Mall (Milpitas)
Seattle AMC Southcenter 16 (Tukwila)
Stockton Regal Stockton City Stadium 16
August 26
Guam Micronesia Mall 10
Honolulu Regal Dole Cannery
Santa Clara AMC Mercado 20
September 2
DC AMC Rio
Virginia Beach, VA AMC Lynnhaven 18 (Norfolk)
Portland, OR Hollywood Theater
Seattle Northwest Film Forum
September 16
Minneapolis, MN St. Anthony Main Theater
September 23
Denver, CO Denver Film Center (Colfax) Awards WINNER! 10 nominations including Festivals Endorsement by the Philippine Secretary of Education Armin Luistro "I commend the producers of AMIGO for portraying the real life drama of ordinary Filipinos who found themselves caught in the midst of the Phil-Am war. The inner struggle of the combatants and their families to resolve a societal dilemma is poignantly captured on reel even as the sordid realities of war unfold in a barrio setting. There are many fresh insights and lessons to pick up from the film for anyone who dares to live life’s questions today." Quotes from film critics "An intelligent, thought-provoking film. Sayles paints a picture of conflict that not only is convincing in its complexity but also relevant to more recent U.S. attempts to impose democracy." "Impressively mounted and well-made. Features an all-guns-blazing performance by Oscar winner Chris Cooper. Sayles wears his heart on his sleeve, and his independent sensibility is always to be admired. He hits all of the right targets as he uses the film as a metaphor for the current US military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan." “A commendably objective film. Sayles’ treatment of the warring sides is fair. It is a tribute to director Sayles that he has written and filmed an account of the war that does not falsify to exonerate his countrymen of crimes committed in pursuit of America’s imperialist adventures. Sayles’ final statement reduces us to tears and gratitude for his anti-colonial gesture.” --Bienvenido Lumbera, film critic, NATIONAL ARTIST awardee for Literature, URIAN 2011 "AMIGO is history lesson come alive. The film presents both its Filipino and American characters with difficult choices that eventually define not only them but their respective nations." -- Ricky Lee, award-winning screenwriter "A beautiful, well-crafted film with good drama, deft humor, subtle irony and fine cinematography. It fairly and unemotionally presents both sides of a long forgotten and ugly war. A cinematic pleasure." -- Wilson Flores, PHILIPPINE STAR “Brave, provocative and insightfully funny, AMIGO weaves a complex tale that does not simplify the issues involved in the war and tries to give voice to the Filipinos’ yearning for freedom.” -- Lito Zulueta, Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, URIAN 2011 “Brilliant! A film that changes your perspective about America. Young people should see it as I wonder how they will react to it.” -- Jaime Zobel-Ayala, chairman emeritus, AYALA CORP. “John Sayles transcends the boundaries of race and nationality so utterly and triumphantly that he can justifiably be called a major Filipino filmmaker.” – Joel David, film reviewer, UP PROFESSOR “Panoorin nating lahat ang AMIGO! We all must support and see this important film.” -- Boy Abunda, TV journalist, BOTTOMLINE, ABS-CBN END
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay
Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress
-- 2011 Urian Awards (Philippine Film Critics’ Association)
OFFICIAL SELECTION
San Sebastian International Film Festival 2010
OFFICIAL SELECTION
London Film Festival 2010
OFFICIAL SELECTION
AFI Film Festival, Los Angeles 2010
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Toronto International Film Festival 2010
OFFICIAL SELECTION, opening night premiere
Asian American International Film Festival, NY 2011
--Geoff Andrew, TIME OUT LONDON
"A great character study in times of war. Hitting and involving. It reveals what we see only rarely in big-screen war films--the real people behind the conflict once the pomp and circumstance are washed away."
--Monika Bartyzel, CINEMATICAL
--Mark Adams, SCREEN DAILY
"Impressive. Sayles tells his story with his usual cinematic vigor and attention to small detail. Garrett Dillahunt makes a strong impression. It will appeal to audiences interested in well-told history and should be of great interest to educators."
--Ray Bennett, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"Audacious. Sayles uses a wonderfully fluid camera aesthetic to drift through villages, jungles and caves with effortless precision. Facial expressions tell decades of family histories, regrets and jealousies. Sayles' human mosaics have always sparked hope for the salvation of American independent films."
--Glenn Heath, SLANT MAGAZINE
"A passionate examination of a forgotten chapter in American history."
--Annlee Ellingson, MOVING PICTURES INTERNATIONAL
"Genuinely gripping."
--Rich Cline, SHADOWS ON THE WALL
"Superb acting ensemble. John Sayles' screenplay drips with venom for the American misaventure in the Philippines. AMIGO unmasks American benevolence as nothing but a cover-up for a political and economic colonization. That the film was directed by an American shows that the Pinoy's Big Brother has come to terms with his countrymen's penchant for repeating that big mistake. If only for this revelation, AMIGO should be watched. – Pablo Tariman, PHILIPPINE STAR
