Asog
Jaya is a non-binary comedian whose life upends after a natural disaster devastates the Philippines and forces them to leave their job hosting a late-night television show and turn to teaching. As they begin to put the pieces of their life back together, Jaya learns of an upcoming drag pageant offering a generous cash prize to the winner and decide to embark on a cross-country trip to compete in the pageant.
Their vision of a solo journey is complicated when they cross paths with Arnel, a former student heading towards family. In a hybrid narrative-documentary form, this comic and poignant film tackles community, climate change’s ever-present effects, and colonization’s lingering impacts. An unconventional road movie, Asog employs Filipino mythology in a heartfelt display of unexpected solidarity and queer joy.
Introduction by Samhita Sunya (VAFF).
“Full of such passion and urgency and humor and love that it gurgles out of the screen and into your soul…I want every single person I know to see this thing of scarred beauty and queer, savage joy.”
– Alan Cumming, Executive Producer
Date
Sun, Oct 29, 2023
Time
8:45 PM
Location
Violet Crown 4
Film Info
Director: Seán Devlin
Runtime: 101 min.
Genre: Drama, International
Year: 2023
Country: Canada, Philippines
Language: Tagalog, Waray
Accessibility: Subtitles
Featuring: Jaya, Arnel Pablo, Ricky Gacho Jr.