106 min / Tagalog and Kapampangan dialogue with English and Russian subtitles

Director: LUISITO LAGDAMEO IGNACIO
Producer: BABY GO, FERDINAND LAPUZ, DENNIS EVANGELISTA, ROMEO LINDAIN
Screenwriter: ROBBY TANTINGCO
Cinematographer: RAIN YAMSON
Editor: GILBERT OBISPO
Cast: AI AI DELAS ALAS, ALLEN DIZON, SUE PRADO, SANCHO DELAS ALAS, SARAH BRAKENSIEK, IREEN CERVANTES, TAB SUMULONG

A short distance from the city’s red-light district is Area, a neighborhood of brothels where over-the-hill sex workers can be had for a can of sardines or even on credit. During its heyday, Area had up to 700 brothels servicing thousands of low-income men, hormonally active boys and society misfits–all taking advantage of the bargain price of sex available only at Area. One of the last remaining brothels is operated by Ben, whose family of former pimps and subversives depends on the brothel for survival. Hillary, one of the sex workers, keeps her life-savings to fulfill a dream to travel to the United States to find a son she said she lost during the panic caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Her skeptical co-workers bully her by dumping on her all the clients they reject, including a freak and a penniless old man who pays with stolen appliances. Hillary’s world collapses when her money is stolen and Ben refuses to file charges, because the suspect is a village watchman whom Ben cannot afford to displease. The story happens during the Holy Week, when the residents of Area perform rituals of penitence to wash away their sins and be ready for another year of business as usual.

Thursday, Sept. 29 18:00-19:46 – Kinopark 11 IMAX Esentai, Cinema 6 (Q&A)
Friday, Sept. 30 21:00-22:46 – Kinopark 11 IMAX Esentai, Cinema 6