DREAM FACTORIES OF A FORMER COLONY: AMERICAN FANTASIES, PHILIPPINE CINEMA BY JOSÉ B. CAPINO. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS, 2010/320PP./$25.00 (SB)

In this insightful text, José B. Capino probes the imaginations of Filipino filmmakers, shedding light on their complex and often contradictory reflections of America. How is Filipino national identity shaped, for better or worse, by the country's colonial past? How do the lingering vestiges of American influence, both literal and fantastical, haunt the nation's perception of itself and its future? As Capino eloquently demonstrates, post-World War II cinema is replete with themes of idolization and resentment, reflecting the cultural ambivalence that pervades processes of decolonization. The films discussed in Dream Factories of a Former Colony: American Fantasies, Philippine Cinema serve as a means of catharsis for a nation grappling with complicated feelings surrounding globalization, hybridization, and ethnic pride. Organized thematically, the book explores several genres of cinema, including horror, drama, romance, diaspora, homoerotic exhibitionism, and American "remakes." Capino's writing is thorough and engaging, drawing from thinkers such as Frantz Fanon, Jacques Derrida, and Sigmund Freud, while maintaining a unique critical perspective. Relevant historical information is seamlessly incorporated without digressing from the book's main task. The films selected encompass a refreshingly diverse range of directors and artistic agendas, and a sprinkling of photo stills aids in the appreciation of the author's scene-by-scene analysis. A satisfying read, Dream Factories of a Former Colony exposes Filipino cinema's conversation with the so-called "American Dream," a negotiation that is still very much in flux.

Author affiliation:

CATHERINE E. BAILEY is a graduate student at the University of Rochester.