Watch this: Filipiñana
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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I feel like golf courses are one of the most egregious examples.
Wasteful things, yes. Absolutely.
Of waste. So much land that could be used for something else, but instead they're using all the water. I I feel like they precursor data centers. Like they are like why are they here? There's a great new movie out that's a different kind of eat the rich narrative, probably because it's not turned out by Hollywood. It's about the inner workings of a country club in the Philippines, and it's both beautiful to look at and an emotional gut punch. Kinda like if Wes Anderson made an explicitly anti-colonialist satire. I'm Aisha Harris, and joining me today on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour is Philadelphia Inquirer, Arts and Entertainment editor, and film critic. Badattery dechargery. Hey Badatri.
Hi, very happy to be here.
Happy to have you. And also with us is Monica Castillo, film critic for the A V Club. Welcome back, Monica.
So glad to be back.
Yeah, it's great to have you both. So in Filipiniana, a country club outside of Manila caters to wealthy international clientele. Seventeen-year-old Isabel is a new employee working as a tea girl that's managing the golf balls for members as they practice their swings, and she's played by Jori Bell Agoto. And the more she absorbs, the more sinister the club begins to seem. Now Philipignana is the featured debut of Raphael Manuel and it's in theaters now. But Atri, I'm gonna start with you. What do we make of this film?
What is Filipiñana and why is it described as an anti‑colonial satire?
I think you said this is the film to look out for and I just wanted to stop at look. Because it's such a beautiful, lush film. Like I've never been to Manila. It's set right outside of Manila. And it's just, of course, to your point, like, you know, this is a little bubble for rich people. And we see the rest of the country is suffering from a shortage of water. But inside the golf club, everything is fine. And oh my God, what does fine mean? It's just like your eyes are soothed when you watch this film. But your mind, heart and brain are racing because it's not easy to digest the things that you're seeing on screen. I'm glad you said Wes Anderson, but also like a little bit of Bong Jun Ho, because like very weird things are happening on screen and you and no one seems to mind.
Everyone has a straight face. So yeah, those are my initial reactions. I really like the film. I think it was a beautiful film to look at.
Yeah, yeah. Monica, how are we feeling about
this? I completely agree. I mean, it was so stunning to watch at Sundance because it's this beautiful lush film, very green, when it's the middle of January. Not like Bark City at all. Not quite. But in looking at these beautiful sort of like almost postcard imagery with this really fascinating pastel uniforms and like it almost looks palatial, this golf club resort area. And you fall in love with like how how this feels and how relaxing it is. But then you start to think about what you're actually watching. And there's these very subtle quiet moments that kind of poke at the absurdity of these fake areas, of these make-believe escapist destinations because while we may see the first impression of like, wow, what a welcoming resort.
We also see the work it takes to create that illusion. And it sort of starts poking at this from different directions. And it's so subtle, but it also uses a lot of surrealist imagery. You know, it's almost hypnotic, some of the things that like The way that Rafael Manuel positions things or like uses his camera to create that still life. That's why we feel a little bit of that Wes Anderson touch. It almost feels like a dollhouse, but it is like pointing out how absurd this all manicured, manufactured reality really is. So it's so artful. It's really haunted me since I've seen it.
Mm. Yeah. I mean it seems worth calling out the DP here, the cinematographer here, who is uh Xenia Patricia and Oh yes.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:40
2
What is Filipiñana and why is it described as an anti‑colonial satire?
1:40–5:07
3
How do the hosts describe the film’s visual style and Wes Anderson‑like aesthetics?
5:07–8:53
4
Why does the movie focus on a country‑club setting instead of a typical Hollywood ‘rich vs poor’ story?
8:53–12:13
5
What does the discussion reveal about the hierarchy and labor dynamics among the club’s staff?
12:13–15:41
6
How does the film portray the contrast between wealthy tourists and Filipino workers?
15:41–19:01
7
What significance do the characters Isabel and Clara bring to the film’s critique of privilege?
19:01–19:47
8
In what ways does Filipiñana differ from shows like White Lotus or other ‘upstairs‑downstairs’ narratives?
19:47–20:59