MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The drug war waged by President Rodrigo Duterte is to be dramatized in the first Netflix series by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, who says the crackdown is “necessary.”
“Amo,” which premieres April 9, is about a high school student who starts selling crystal meth and ends up tangled in a nightmarish world populated by violent kingpins and corrupt officials.
It is the latest up-close examination of Philippine life from Cannes-honored Mendoza, who is a Duterte supporter and has filmed two government advertisements promoting the president’s anti-drug campaign.
“Yes, it (the drug war) is necessary for the Philippines — not only for the Philippines but also other countries afflicted with the drug problem,” the 57-year-old Filipino told AFP in a telephone interview.
“The reason why I did this is so people can see the other side of the coin,” he said — from the point of view of the “victims” as well as the “victimizers.”
“Amo,” Filipino slang for “master,” explores the drug problem as experienced by different characters, including a student and his policeman uncle.
Mendoza said he would not like the series “to look like propaganda for the government… It is not.”
The filmmaker stressed he was an “advocate” against illegal drugs.
‘Based on real events’
In a Filipino film industry dominated by syrupy, star-driven productions, Mendoza runs an independent production outfit that stands out for its choice of topics.
He crafts stories of ordinary people in situations ranging from prostitution to corruption.
His “Kinatay” (Butchered), a gritty film that graphically depicts, the rape, murder, and dismemberment of a sex worker, won him the Cannes best director award in 2009.
His films have been well received in Europe and in 2014, Mendoza became the first Filipino director to receive one of France’s highest honors, the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
Mendoza earlier told AFP he learned about the full extent of the nation’s drug problem while doing research for the 2016 film “Ma’ Rosa,” which won the Cannes best actress award.
“I think my work, including the series I’m doing, speaks volumes about what I want to say. I’d rather have my work do the talking,” he said.
Mendoza said “Amo” was originally shot for a Philippine television station that contracted him to make a series of films.
But he convinced the network boss to “explore… platforms other than free TV” for the series, and sent two of the episodes to Netflix.
“I think one of the reasons why they were interested in the material, in the story, is the way it was shot. It looks very realistic, like a documentary-style shoot and unlike your typical TV series,” Mendoza said.
“This is something based on research, and the police had their input too. Our story was based on real events.” Agence France-Presse
