RIA

By Arvin BELARMINO

LES CINEMAS DU MONDE - LA FABRIQUE CINEMA DE L’INSTITUT FRANÇAIS - as PROMO

Social issues - Development 2023

With a chronically-ill foster mother and their community in peril, an orphaned folk-punk musician meddles in the illegal porn industry to make ends meet.

    • Year of production
    • 2023
    • Genres
    • Social issues, First film, Drama
    • Countries
    • PHILIPPINES
    • Director(s)
    • Arvin BELARMINO
    • Producer(s)
    • Kristine DE LEON (MUD STUDIOS)
    • Synopsis
    • Ria is a 25-year-old punk woman who lives in Vachel's Cave, a punk commune in the middle of Sitio Rosario, a resettlement area under threat of demolition. The commune is owned by Olga, a 52-year-old woman with diabetes. Due to the financial difficulties caused by Olga's illness, Ria works at Rayon Hotel as a housekeeper.

      As Olga’s condition worsens and as intimidation from authorities closes in on Sitio Rosaio, Ria subjects herself to harder labor and is forced to work in an underground porn in the same hotel. Before long, the community comes to ruin as they fall victim to a ruthless demolition. Ria learns to radicalize her anger and lead the punks of Vachel's Cave into taking a stand against the violence surrounding them.