Sibak: Midnight Dancers

Sibak: Midnight Dancers is a 1994 Philippines film, and the first of a series of three gay-themed movies by Mel Chionglo and Ricky Lee about the lives of macho dancers (strippers)^[1] in the gay bars of Manila. The later two are Burlesk King and Twilight Dancers.^[2] All three follow in the tradition of Lino Brocka's 1988 film Macho Dancer. This movie was banned in the Philippines.

Sibak: Midnight Dancers
DVD poster
Directed by	Mel Chionglo
Written by	Ricky Lee
Starring	Noni Buencamino Lawrence David Gandong Cervantes Alex Del Rosario
Release dates	September 9, 1994 (1994-09-09) (TIFF) July 5, 1995 (1995-07-05) (Philippines) September 28, 1995 (1995-09-28) (United States)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Plot

The story revolves around the lives of three brothers who work as strippers in a gay bar in Ermita, Manila.^[3] The oldest, Joel, has a wife and a boyfriend. Dennis, the middle brother, steals car radios with his friends. The youngest, Sonny, dropped out of college and has a transsexual lover.^[4]

Cast

• Nonie Buencamino as Dave
• Lawrence David as Sonny
• Gandong Cervantes as Dennis
• Alex Del Rosario as Joel
• Luis Cortes
• Danny Ramos
• Richard Cassity
• John Mendoza
• Leonard Manalansan
• Perla Bautista as Mother
• Ryan Aristorenas as Bogart
• Soxie Topacio as Dominic
• Maureen Mauricio as Zeny
• Ray Ventura as Gregorio

Reception

The film received positive reviews from the Toronto Film Festival.^[5] However, the film was banned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.^[3]