The Rites of May

Description

The Rites of May (Itim) — A horror film considered a masterpiece of Filipino cinema. For a long time, it was unavailable to the general public. Impossible to find on DVD or in good digital quality. In 2022, it was restored by the BFI (British Film Institute) for screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

A photographer returns to his home village to document Holy Week religious rituals and falls for a woman possessed by her dead sister’s spirit.

The director noted that The Rites of May can be viewed as an allegory of national trauma during the dictatorship and social upheaval in the Philippines.

After premiering in the «Cannes Classics» section, the film got a second life and began screening in leading museums worldwide and releasing on digital platforms.
Thus, the film transitioned from forgotten rarity to recognized masterpiece of world cinema, available to today’s viewers.