The Search for Weng Weng

2007

1h 32m

Documentary

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Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Filmmaker Andrew Leavold searches for the history of Filipino B-films by looking for Weng Weng.

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Anton Bitel

Sight & Sound

Overlapping to a degree with Mark Hartley's Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010), Leavold's quest to uncover the man behind the legend becomes an affectionate if bittersweet history of Filipino exploitation cinema

May 26, 2014

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Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

The film is a good example of a fan documentary that is well made and brings something to entertain even people who are not into the genre or star being documented.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 19, 2020

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Travis Johnson

FILMINK (Australia)

This is an astute, ribald, and thorough look at a unique man and his culture - it just happens to be about a tiny man who made a living punching stuntmen in the crotch for the camera.

Mar 28, 2017

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Amanda Waltz

The Film Stage

Succeeds in spurring a dialogue on Weng Weng's role as a representation of the Filipino spirit, which, in the grand scheme of things, is more than any film scholar could possibly hope for.

Rated: B-

Mar 26, 2016

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Audience Member

Facinating...far more than just a doco about amshort actor...a film a bout philipeno film and culture intersections...and then there's the Bookmans bobble head...you know you want to..

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

A shockingly bigger than expected story, tackled with an obsessive wit by a committed mind that could only have come from the shelves of a cult video store. The Search For Weng Weng is a film that informs about an obscure but compelling subject and tells a constantly surprising story of political/cinema history in the Philippines and the exploitative avenues of the film industry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

A simple yet surprisingly touching & deep documentary about a Brisbane Man Andrew Leavold (Who I know) who went on a pursuit to find who the real Weng Weng. He grew up with an old VHS Copy of Weng Weng's most popular film For You'r Height Only (1981) & for years was intrigued about Weng Weng but could find nothing on him. He eventually decided to head to Philippines to complete his odyssey. Filled with insightful history & touching & sincere interviews, this truly was a wonderful documentary. Andrew Leavold's passion is injected to every aspect of the film & it's a must see & as much as Weng Weng is.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

An interesting look into Philippine cinema and its biggest little start. Weng Weng was a surprisingly complex person with a complex short life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Andrew Leavold

Director

Daniel Haig

Screenwriter

Andrew Leavold

Screenwriter

Daniel Haig

Producer

Andrew Leavold

Producer

Jessica St. Bruno

Producer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Andrew Leavold searches for the history of Filipino B-films by looking for Weng Weng.

Director: Andrew Leavold
Producer: Daniel Haig, Andrew Leavold, Jessica St. Bruno
Screenwriter: Daniel Haig, Andrew Leavold
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2020
Runtime: 1h 32m

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