KEKA

San Francisco Premiere

Philippines 2003 | 93mins | 35mm Color | Tagalog w/E.S.

One of the most refreshing pieces to come out of Philippine cinema in a decade, KEKA is a black comedy, action, suspense and love story combined into one well-blended cinematic treat. Keka (Katya Santos) is a young, modern-day multi-tasker who works the night shift at a call-center, goes on dates, and hangs out with friends. She's also a calm, collected serial killer, busy avenging the murder of her boyfriend by tracking down the five fraternity brothers who were tried for killing him, yet acquitted because their parents had "friends in high places." Fending off nosy neighbors, committed to finishing her grisly deeds, she soon meets Jason Sanchez (Wendell Ramos), a cop coincidentally assigned to hunt down this unknown serial killer. Keka and Jason fall in love, without knowing the other's pursuits.

Intelligent and sophisticated without being pretentious, insightful of social ills without being preachy, KEKA pokes fun at soap operas and popcorn musicals, yet allows for moments of poignancy and grief. Borrowing devices from Francois Truffaut and Mike de Leon, Henares crafts an engaging journey amidst the quirks of urban Manila, and creates a film for young and old, cynical and love-struck. "KEKA puts a playful and darkly nasty spin on the revenge genre," wrote Variety, "shot and staged with rain-soaked stylishness worthy of Wong Kar-wai and lenser Christopher Doyle, but with a mordant wit as a bonus."

—Michael Magnaye