Batang West Side

(West Side Kid, 2000)

Hinabing Pangarap Production/JMCN Production

660 mins/ Colored, Black and White

IMDB | LetterBoxd | MUBI | Facebook Page

Synopsis

A Filipino teenager (Yul Servo) is shot to death on the sidewalk of New Jersey, USA. An investigation starts into his death. His family members and friends are interviewed. Along the way, we find out not only more about him but about the community of Filipinos in America in general, including the destructive effect of the drug “shabu” on its youth. The detective who handles the case (Joel Torre) also has his own personal demons to settle with his violent past.

Cast and Crew

Reviews

Ronnie Scheib, “Batang West Side”, Variety

Srikanth Srinivasan , “Batang West Side (West Side Avenue, 2001)”, theseventhart.info

Conrad De Quiros, “The True Best Picture”, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 2002

Alexis Tioseco, IMDB

Oggs Cruz, “Batang West Side (2001)”, Lessons from the School of Inattention

Noel Vera, Ready for the longest film in Philippine history, Philippine Star

Vinita Ramani, Batang West Side, Films Asia

Gabriel Gabaya, Film review: Batang West Side, Google Groups (soc.culture.filipino)

Mario Hernando, “Batang West Side: Crime, love, guilt, diaspora — a cinematic mural”, Manunuri website

Jema Pamintuan, Batang West Side: Diskurso ng Konsensiya, Kaakuhan at Kasaysayan, NCCA site