Underplayed Gems

Balweg (1987)

Balweg poster
Original title
Balweg: The Rebel Priest
Country
Philippines
Rated
R-18
Rating
9.0 of 10 from 1 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
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How it feels

This biographical film follows Conrado Balweg, a Catholic priest who becomes a communist rebel in the Philippines. It focuses on his transformation and his role in a rebellion, showing his actions and impact.

heroicdramaticaction-packedrebelliousinspiringseriousfast-pacedpolarizing

What happens

Balweg (marketed as Balweg, the Rebel Priest) is a 1987 Filipino biographical action drama film directed by Antonio Perez. Inspired by the life of Catholic priest turned communist rebel Conrado Balweg, it stars Phillip Salvador as the eponymous rebel, alongside Rio Locsin, Tetchie Agbayani, Johnny Delgado, Pinky Amador, Jose Romulo, Mon Godiz, Bebong Osorio, Eddie Infante, and Baldo Marro. Produced by Viva Films, Balweg was released on July 8, 1987, and was a box office success. Phillip Salvador won both the FAMAS Award and the Film Academy of the Philippines Award for Best Actor. The film received negative reviews from critics, who deemed it an "opportunistic" film which excessively depicts Balweg as a "larger-than-life hero" at the expense of a fair depiction of his character and motivation. Some members of communist organizations in the Philippines also criticized the film's various historical inaccuracies. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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