© UP Film Center
Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang
(You Were Weighed and Found Wanting)
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Kuala (Lolita Rodriguez), a deranged woman, wanders about in dirty clothes and with mangy hair. The townsfolk make fun of Kuala. She is pushed into a watering hole and almost drowns. Bertong Ketong (Mario O'Hara), a leper lonely for female companionship, attracts Kuala with a rattle and takes her to his shack in the cemetery. Junior (Christopher de Leon) makes friends with them, defying the prohibitions of his father, Cesar Blanco (Eddie Garcia), a politician. |
Junior asks Berto's advice concerning his problems with an eccentric teacher, Mr. Del Mundo (Orlando Nadres), who has a crush on him. Junior has problems too with his girlfriend Evangeline (Hilda Koronel), who flirts with her escort during a Santacruzan. The jealous Junior leaves the procession and seeks the company of Milagros (Laurice Guillen), who seduces him.
The Asociacion de las Damas Cristianas is scandalized to discover Kuala is pregnant. She is forced to live under the custody of the pious Lola Jacoba (Rosa Aguirre). Junior shows up and helps the pregnant Kuala make her way back to Berto's shack.
Berto rushes out to fetch a doctor. When the doctor refuses to come, Berto threatens to kill him. Before they reach the shack in the cemetery, the doctor escapes and a chase ensues.
Tinimbang, considered by Lino Brocka as his "first novel" and his first production for his own film outfit, is the story of a young boy growing up in a small town and the unusual friendship he develops with a leper and the village idiot. Their stories draw forth the true nature of hypocrisy in the small town and the boy bears witness and participates in the various emotions that throb under the seemingly quiet village life-prejudice, cruelty, forgiveness, and even love. In Tinimbang, Brocka clearly shows man's limitations as a mortal being, but sends a message of hope for the movie, and in the end, speaks ultimately of rebirth and maturity.
Awards: Winner of six Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Brocka), actor (de Leon), actress (Rodriguez), music (Labad) and theme song (Lacaba).
Direction: Lino Brocka
Screenplay: Mario O'Hara
Cinematography: Jose Batac
Editing: Augusto Salvador
Music: Lutgardo Labad and Emmanuel Lacaba (Lyrics of Theme Song)
Sound: Gregorio Ella
Cast: Lolita Rodriguez, Christopher de Leon, Mario O'Hara, Eddie Garcia, Hilda Koronel, Laurice Guillen, Anita Linda, Lilia Dizon, Joonee Gamboa, Alicia Alonzo, Orlando Nadres, Ernie Zarate, Lorli Villanueva, Rosa Aguirre, Lily Miraflor, Chito Ponce Enrile, Joseph Sytangco, Bhey Vito and Jerry O'Hara.
Production: CineManila Corporation
1974 35mm 128 mins. Color Filipino with English subtitles