Title: The Masseur
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Language: Tagalog | Filipino
Cast:
Coco Martin as Iliac
Jacklyn Jose as Naty
Allan Paule as Alfredo / Marina Hidalgo
Katherine Luna as Tessa
Paolo Rivero as Andrew
Kristoffer King as Lester
Movie Summary:
Illiac (Coco Martin) is a handsome young lad who, because his alcoholic and carousing absentee father cannot support his family, has left his home to work as a masseur in Manila, assuming the financial responsibility of his family. Illiac works in a massage parlor - rooms like closets so close that conversations are easily heard - where he has his regular clients as well as newcomers, each of whom pays for massage an tips for all the 'extras' the boys are more than willing to offer for a price. The film moves back and forth between Illiac's home and his work in Manila and after his father dies, Illiac must return home and be the one who must assist the mortician in preparing his father's body for burial. This tradition becomes an analogy for the work Illiac performs on the massage table and the conversations and physical involvements between Illiac and client mirror the ministrations at the funeral parlor in a powerful and deeply moving way. Illiac is able to cope with both sides of his lot until he discovers some secrets left in his deceased father's belongings.
