Gumapang Ka sa Lusak

Gumapang Ka sa Lusak
Gumapang Ka sa Lusak
Directed by	Lino Brocka
Written by	Ricardo Lee
Produced by	Vic R. del Rosario Jr.; Boy C. De Guia;
Starring	Dina Bonnevie; Christopher de Leon; Eddie Garcia; Charo Santos; Allan Paule;
Cinematography	Pedro Manding Jr.
Edited by	George Jarlego
Music by	Nonong Buencamino
Production; company	Viva Films
Distributed by	Viva Films
Release date	May 17, 1990;
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Gumapang Ka sa Lusak (English: You Crawl in the Mud^[1]), also known internationally as Dirty Affair,^[2] is a 1990 Filipino political thriller crime drama film directed by Lino Brocka from a story and screenplay written by Ricardo Lee. Starring Dina Bonnevie, Eddie Garcia, Charo Santos, Christopher de Leon, and Allan Paule, the film tackles the abuse of power and evil acts committed by Edmundo Guatlo and his cruel wife Rowena in which Rachel, a movie actress who is his mistress, and her friends try to expose his scandals and violent acts done by him and his wife and even his henchmen to the public.^[1] This was one of the two films of that year where Brocka collaborated with cinematographer Pedro Manding Jr. before the latter's murder; the other is Biktima.^[3]

Produced and distributed by Viva Films, the film was theatrically released on May 17, 1990, and was later screened through international film festivals including in France and Japan in 1994.^[2] In 2010, the film was remade into a television drama series of the same name by GMA Network as the nineteenth installment of Sine Novela and starred Dennis Trillo as Levi, Jennylyn Mercado as Rachel, Al Tantay as Edmundo Guatlo, and Sandy Andolong as Rowena Guatlo.^[4]

Plot

Living in the slums of Manila, Jonathan, a college student, enjoys spending time with his wealthy college friends, Eric, Dodo, and RJ. One night at a bar, he meets Rachel, a former sexy star who is having an affair with Mayor Edmundo Guatlo, who is running for Congress and is being financially supported by the mayor, at the cost of being constantly followed by Edmundo's aide, Falcon. Jonathan sees Rachel again at the bar, but when Falcon and his men force her to come with them, Jonathan helps her escape. Rachel visits her family, but her younger sister Gigi is embarrassed because of her affair with Edmundo. She also visits her former boyfriend Levi, who is imprisoned for robbery. She asks Edmundo to use his connections to release Levi. While on the way to a party, Edmundo is tailed by his wife Rowena and is asked to transfer to her car. At the party, Rachel comes and surprises Rowena.

Rowena visits Rachel and offers money, but asks her to leave the house that she got from Edmundo, but Rachel insists that Edmundo is the one who will decide for her. Rowena threatens her that if she does not obey, she will pour acid on her face and she will have her raped. Then, Rachel's father was fired from his work and blamed Rowena after she talked to his employer. Edmundo tells Rachel that Levi is about to be released from prison. Upon Levi's release, Falcon told him that Edmundo helped him, but asked him to kill Edmundo's political rival, Atty. Ricardo Tuazon. When Rachel visits Levi, he reveals Edmundo's instructions, promising that they will start all over after the deed. Levi complies and kills Tuazon during a beauty pageant while being interviewed as one of the judges. But Edmundo betrays him and orders his men to hunt him down. Levi sought refuge at the house of Rachel's family. But her father does not want to get involved with Levi. Jonathan also comes to help, but Rachel refuses because she does not want him to get involved. Falcon and his men arrive and kill Levi in front of Rachel and Jonathan, both of whom escape.

Rowena harshly reprimands Falcon for not killing Rachel, but is told that Edmundo ordered them not to kill her. Rowena warns that Rachel might go to Tuazon's camp and expose everything. Rachel seeks the help of Jonathan and his friends. Dodo offers her to stay in her cousin's place. While Eric, Dodo, and RJ are on the road, they are accosted by Falcon and his men. Falcon asked RJ where they had brought Rachel. But, RJ fights back and is shot dead by Falcon. Falcon tells the others that he has abducted Rachel's parents and tells them to contact him if Rachel wants to see them. She then calls Edmundo, who admits that he was the one who ordered the abduction of her parents to make sure that she would contact her and tell her that she still loves her. Rachel then plays a tape-recorded confession of her saying it was Edmundo who ordered the murders of both Levi and Atty. Tuazon. She also reveals that when she was still an actress, she was abducted by Edmundo's men and taken to a resort where she was raped by Edmundo. Edmundo offered her financial support for her and her family. He also threatened her that if she disobeyed him, he would ruin her face, forcing her to leave her acting career and become Edmundo's mistress. Rachel told him that she would make several copies and spread them in the national media. But she says she would give the tape to Edmundo in exchange for her parents' freedom. But when Rachel comes to the place where her parents are, Falcon arrives. She asks where Edmundo is, but Falcon says he is not around. She is reunited with her parents and warns Falcon that she has friends who can help her expose his evil deeds. Falcon threatens them and shoots Rachel's mother after she slapped him. Falcon is held back by Rachel's father, allowing Rachel to escape, while his father is later killed by Falcon’s men.

During an event, Levi's mother stabbed Rowena to avenge her son before being shot and killed. While Edmundo gives a speech at a rally, Rachel comes and tells everyone of his role in the assassinations of both Levi and Atty. Tuazon, in which she exposed the atrocities committed by him and his wife. As Edmundo denies the accusations, Rachel's recorded confession is played. A furious Falcon mortally shoots Rachel, causing the people to panic, and he is shot to death while trying to evade. Rachel thanked Jonathan before she died in his arms, as Edmundo and Rowena were arrested. Jonathan then looks at the sunset and reminisces about his memories with Rachel.

Cast

Dina Bonnevie as Rachel Suarez, a former movie actress who is Edmundo's mistress and wants to expose his evil acts to the public
Christopher De Leon as Levi, Rachel's boyfriend, whom Edmundo tasked to assassinate his political rival
Eddie Garcia as Edmundo Guatlo, a demon-minded mayor who is running for congressman and has an affair with Rachel
Charo Santos as Rowena Guatlo, Edmundo's wife
Bembol Roco as Falcon, Edmundo's henchman, who usually watches Rachel's actions
Allan Paule as Jonathan, a young college student who is a fan of Rachel Suarez and one of the driving forces to expose Mayor Guatlo's evil and scandalous acts to the public
Francis Magalona as RJ, one of Jonathan's friends, but kidnapped and killed by Falcon
William Lorenzo as Eric, one of Jonathan's friends
Timothy Diwa as Dodo, one of Jonathan's friends
Perla Bautista as Rachel's mother
Anita Linda as Levi's mother
Maureen Mauricio as a movie actress on a film set
Ernie Zarate as Rachel's father
Lucita Soriano as Jonathan's mother
Ray Ventura as Atty. Ricardo Tuazon, Edmundo's political rival, whom Edmundo wanted to kill
Archie Adamos as Rowena Guatlo's bodyguard

Reception

Accolades

Accolades received by *Gumapang Ka sa Lusak*
Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
1991	FAMAS Awards	Best Picture	Gumapang Ka sa Lusak	Nominated	^[5]
		Best Director	Lino Brocka	Won
		Best Story	Ricky Lee	Won
		Best Actress	Dina Bonnevie	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Charo Santos	Nominated
	Gawad Urian Awards	Best Film	Gumapang Ka sa Lusak	Won
		Best Screenplay	Ricky Lee	Won
		Best Actress	Dina Bonnevie	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Charo Santos	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Eddie Garcia	Nominated
	FAP Awards	Best Picture	Gumapang Ka sa Lusak	Won
		Best Director	Lino Brocka	Won
		Best Actor	Eddie Garcia	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Bembol Roco	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Charo Santos	Nominated
		Best Musical Score	Nonong Buencamino	Nominated
	Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA)	Best Picture	Gumapang Ka sa Lusak	Won
		Best Actress	Dina Bonnevie	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Charo Santos	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Christopher de Leon	Nominated
	Star Awards	Best Director	Lino Brocka	Won
		Best Actor	Eddie Garcia	Nominated
		Best Actress	Dina Bonnevie	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Christopher de Leon	Won
		Best Supporting Actress	Charo Santos	Nominated
		Best Editor	George Jarlego	Won
		Best Music	Dionisio "Nonong" Buencamino	Nominated
		Best Movie Theme	Dionisio "Nonong" Buencamino	Nominated
		Best Sound	Rolly Ruta	Won
		Best Production Design	Benjie de Guzman	Nominated

References

^ ^a ^b Yeatter, Bryan L. (2007). Cinema of the Philippines: A History and Filmography, 1897-2005. McFarland & Company. p. 145.
^ ^a ^b "DIRTY AFFAIR (GUMAPANG KA SA LUSAK)". Festival des 3 Continents. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
^ "Top 10 Crimes Solved Via Hotline sa Trese". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. March 20, 1991. p. 13. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
^ Sibonga, Glen L. (February 5, 2010). "Jennylyn Mercado plays a mistress in Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
^ Hernando, Mario (1993). Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times. Cultural Center of the Philippines. pp. 299–300. ISBN 9789718546161. Retrieved April 25, 2025 – via Google Books.

External links

Gumapang Ka sa Lusak at IMDb

[Rikka-1] Yeatter, Bryan L. (2007). Cinema of the Philippines: A History and Filmography, 1897-2005. McFarland & Company. p. 145.

[Akihito-2] "DIRTY AFFAIR (GUMAPANG KA SA LUSAK)". Festival des 3 Continents. Retrieved August 21, 2023.

[3] "Top 10 Crimes Solved Via Hotline sa Trese". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. March 20, 1991. p. 13. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

[Yuuta-4] Sibonga, Glen L. (February 5, 2010). "Jennylyn Mercado plays a mistress in Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 21, 2023.

[Natsuhiko-5] Hernando, Mario (1993). Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times. Cultural Center of the Philippines. pp. 299–300. ISBN 9789718546161. Retrieved April 25, 2025 – via Google Books.

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