The class is now in session (a little longer).
Whether your bias is class president Angeli or the emo trio (shoutout to Eman, Arnold, and Lester), Filipino film “Cleaners” might have probably secured a spot in your all-time favorite coming of age favorites after your first watch. Through the students of IV-Rizal, Glenn Barit’s debut feature film managed to dig up the happy, ugly, and unhinged core memories of our high school life, that sometimes you might find yourself craving another visit to the classroom that holds so much history.
Good news to those who can relate: Fans of the cult favorite can now grab a physical copy, with bonus features to boot. Kani Releasing, which is home to Blu-ray DVDs of Asian films for North American distribution, made the exciting announcement on Jan. 2.
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Packed with a slipcover designed by Filipino artist Electromilk, the special edition of the 2019 film is definitely “stacked”. Inside it are its proofs of concept, behind-the-scenes content, and trailers. If the post-watch party conversation with your high school gang needs more closure, the limited edition copy also includes audio commentary with Glenn himself, plus a newly commissioned micro-sequel short film “Yung Huling Swimming Reunion Before Life Happens”.
If you’re down to dig deeper into the director’s body of work, this version also his previous short films: “Endless Oven,” “Nangungupahan,” “Aliens Ata,” and “Luzonensis Osteoporosis,” which spotlights a prehistoric hominid-turned-migrant worker.
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It also contains “Judy Free,” a short by filmmaker and “Cleaners” editor Che Tagyamon, plus a handwritten booklet of essays penned by Richard Bolisay and Benj Gabun Sumabat.
Set in Tuguegarao City, “Cleaners” follows a Catholic high school’s cleaners group as they individually embark on a journey of self-discovery, trumping the pressures of being “clean” in a world that is actually dirty.
Each frame of the film was painstakingly printed, photocopied, and colored with highlighters, perfectly capturing the narrative’s essence. During its local premiere at the QCinema Film Festival 2019, it took home the best film, best screenplay, and audience choice awards.
Pre-orders of the home video copy are available on the website of Vinegar Syndrome, a film restoration and distribution company. You can pick either the limited edition slipcover (P1,655.52) or the standard edition (P1,512.75).
Read more:
Understanding Filipino youth culture through regional cinema
QUIZ: Which Filipino movie character is your seatmate this semester
Here are 2023 films that made our cinema experience better
Photos from Vinegar Syndrome/Kani Releasing/“Cleaners”
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