John Sayles has spent a lifetime making a name for himself as an independent film-maker, so it is sad that WOW Film Festival 2012 is the first time that Amigo has found an audience in the UK since the Londond Film Festival 2010.
Amigo is a well-crafted ensemble piece set in a Filipino garrison town as US troops are driving out the last of the Spanish and fighting the national liberation insurgents. While any historical knowledge would certainly have helped to understand the context, the large assortment of characters were interesting enough to keep me hooked. From Rafael, cabeza del barrio, whose only goal in life is to lead the people of the village well, to the rookie soldier falling for a native girl, each character is nuanced and believable.
The film makes a strong statement about power, institutions and corruption. The US troops were at first happy to fight the locals, blindly following orders, but as they got to know the village life, a struggle brewed between their morals and their obedience to authority. Particularly striking was the Spanish priest who, as the only person who can speak both English and Filipino, wields enormous power that he gleefully abuses.
Overall, a bleak but very interesting film, well-worth watching.
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