The 17th feature film from Academy Award-nominated writer-director John Sayles, stars legendary Filipino actor Joel Torre as Rafael, 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 Rafaelʼs brother (Ronnie Lazaro) is the head of the local guerillas, and considers anyone who cooperates with the Americans to be atraitor. Rafael quickly finds himself forced to make the impossible, potentially deadly decisions faced byordinary civilians in an occupied country.A powerful drama of friendship, betrayal, romance and heartbreaking violence, AMIGO is a page torn fromthe untold history of the Philippines, and a mirror of todayʼs unresolvable conflicts.
TRAILER
Filmed entirely on location in The Philippines.
“Entertaining and relevant!” -A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“Engrossing! Intelligently rip-roaring, a thoughtful action film.” -J. Hoberman, Village Voice
“Four Stars … Sayles’ best in a decade!” -Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
SELECT FESTIVALS
- 2010 Cinemalaya: Philippine Independent Film Festival
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2010 Toronto International Film Festival, Canada
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2010 San Sebastián Film Festival, Spain
- 2010 Mar del Plata Film Festival, Argentina
- 2010 Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece
- 2011 Asian American International Film Festival, New York (Opening Night)
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2011 Milano Film Festival, Italy
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
John Sayles likes to be known as a storyteller. AMIGO is his 17th film, all of which he has also written, and most of which he has edited. He writes fiction and has published several novels and collections of short stories. His book about the making of Matewan, "Thinking in Pictures” is taught in film classes and has never been out of print. His new novel A Moment in the Sun, set around 1900, substantially in the Philippines, was published by McSweeney’s in May 2011, and has gone into its second printing.Sayles supports his directing career as a “writer for hire” in Hollywood. Though his work is often uncredited, he recently wrote and received credit on Spiderwick Chronicles. Currently he is writing about KGB assassins, the Tasmanian penal colony, the Rosenberg spy case, the plot to bring water to Los Angeles, and the great singer- songwriters Joni Mitchell, Carole King, & Carly Simon. He directed three music videos for Bruce Springsteen; Born in the USA, I’m on Fire, and Glory Days. He is one of the godfathers– or grandfathers– of the US Independent Film movement. He lives with his producing partner of many years, Maggie Renzi, in upstate New York.
His 16th film, Honeydripper starring Danny Glover, screened at the inaugural San Joaquin International Film Festival in June 2008.
Filmography
Return of the Secaucus Seven (1979)
Lianna (1982)
Baby, It’s You (1983)
The Brother from Another Planet (1985)
Matewan (1987)
Eight Men Out (1988)
City of Hope (1990)
Passion Fish (1992)
The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)
Lone Star (1996)
Men with Guns (Hombres Armados) (1997)
Limbo (1999)
Sunshine State (2002)
Casa de los Babys (2003)
Silver City (2004)
Honeydripper (2007)
Amigo (2010)
Director-Writer: John Sayles Producer: Maggie Renzi Cinematographer: Lee Briones-Meily Editor: John Sayles Music: Mason Daring Principal Cast: Joel Torre, Garret Dillahunt, Chris Cooper, DJ Qualls, Rio Locsin, Ronnie Lazaro, Bembol Roco, Yul Vázquez, Dane DeHaan, Art Acuña
