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The Woman in the Septic Tank

2011 1h 27m Comedy List
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Cynical filmmakers plan on producing a bleak, independent film dealing with poverty and prostitution in the hopes of scoring free travel to international film festivals.

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Diego Semerene Slant Magazine A lighthearted critique on the fetishized notion of the "non-actor," the ethics (or lack thereof) of the "docudrama," and the packaging of national despair for export. Rated: 3/4 May 23, 2012 Full Review Rachel Saltz New York Times [It] hits its targets, but softly, more in amusement than in anger. Rated: 3/5 May 22, 2012 Full Review Nick Pinkerton Village Voice The novel and wickedly funny topic is mined for only a portion of its potential, but a little ironic astringency is certainly more unsettling than by-the-book slum drama. May 22, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (15) audience reviews
Audience Member Its title, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, might literally give justice only until the ending of the film, but looking in another perspective, that woman is the depiction of the harsh evolution of mainstream today and the transition of Philippine cinema. The satirical comedy laid itself on the boundary of being indie and mainstream. The ambivalence can be unnoticeable yet present: the cinematography of the movie's inception, the soundtrack, and actors are on mainstream; while the substance gave 'indie' real justice. Substance over form yet never have I encountered a daring movie, yet at times, hypocritical. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Walang-wala! Haha! Satirical masterpiece! :) Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member A motion pic with full of solid laughs and smiles! Eugene Domingo offered her stunning performance in the movie! I actually love the original ending! Very! very funny! =D Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member There is a balance of fun and substance wherein the reality in every film production opts for two goals - to be recognized internationally and to make money. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member It presents how film-makers manipulate the audience's reaction to every scene of a film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Amusing satire. Filmmakers can, like the rest of us, be a bit self-centred, resulting in movies about making movies. This is one is an amusing satire about a group of indie filmmakers. They are planning a movie about life in the slums of Manila, discussing how to make it an award winner, a success on the film festival circuit, what boxes to tick off, poverty, sex tourism, pedophilia... Who should act in it? Should it be a gritty docudrama or maybe a musical? This is perhaps the best part of the movie, the movie morphing in the mind of the production assistant as the director, producer and lead actress discuss it. The one thing they do seem oblivious of, being well-to-do, Apple-touting hipsters, is the subject matter of the movie they are making. The slums are as alien to them as it is to the Western, festival-going target audience. Something that is only too evident when they first show up on location in the slum. Jumping and screaming with joy on how perfect it is, at least until they get something else to jump and scream about. There are several laugh-out-loud funny scenes, but also some rather tedious ones. The moment reality intervenes is too melodramatic by far, and the closing scene, the one giving name to the movie seems rather arbitrary. Despite these shortcomings it remains a watchable and amusing satire. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Woman in the Septic Tank

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Cynical filmmakers plan on producing a bleak, independent film dealing with poverty and prostitution in the hopes of scoring free travel to international film festivals.
Director
Marlon N. Rivera
Screenwriter
Chris Martinez
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
Filipino
Runtime
1h 27m