Rafael Manuel explores class and heat in Filipiñana

Rafael Manuel's debut feature, Filipiñana, serves as a critique of economic inequality set on a Philippine golf course. The film portrays extreme social stratification through the roles of tee girls, employees who sit close to wealthy golfers to replace balls as they swing. The narrative centers on a teenager named Isabel, played by Jorrybell Agoto, as she uncovers sinister secrets.

Accessible Slow Cinema and Environment

In an interview with August Hammel, Manuel discussed the intentional pacing of the film, describing it as "accessible slow cinema." He explained that the slow speed is designed to represent the intense physical heat of the Philippines. Manuel noted that temperatures reaching above 50 degrees Celsius, combined with humidity, create a sensory quagmire that discourages action. This environmental factor serves a political purpose, reflecting themes of inaction. Additionally, Manuel stated the pacing aims to capture the Filipino experience of waiting for something that never arrives.

Class and the Landscape

Manuel identified the golf course environment as the primary starting point for the project. He linked the setting to colonial history, noting that the first courses in the Philippines were located on American military bases. The director viewed the golf course as a form of land gentrification. Referencing academic Simon Schama, Manuel argued that a landscape is culture before it is nature. He suggested that the act of framing land projects human imagination onto it, though laborers have a different relationship to the landscape than the person capturing it.

From Short to Feature

Regarding the development process, Manuel revealed he wrote a 30-page treatment for the feature while still in film school. Although he was advised to film a short film as a proof of concept due to funding constraints, he views the two as independent mediums. He compared a short film to a poem and a feature to a short story. Manuel admitted a deep familiarity with the subject matter, as his family business involved the import and export of golf apparel and he grew up around the sport.

Directing Actors

Manuel described his approach to directing as a preference for as little as possible on set. He believes that 70 to 80 percent of the work occurs during casting and rehearsal. His view of the director's role is to set the parameters of the world during preparation, allowing actors the freedom to react during filming. He emphasized that the best acting often comes from reacting and free choices made by the performers themselves.