Kisapmata
“You can't fight a gun with a rosary.”
Synopsis
A young woman gets married but her authoritarian father refuses to let her out of his sight.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Teaser of the restored version of "Kisapmata" (1981) by Mike De Leon
Type: Teaser • Published 2020-08-05
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Charo Santos
Mila Carandang
Jay Ilagan
Noel Manalansan
Vic Silayan
Tatang / Sgt. Diosdado Carandang
Charito Solis
Nanang / Adelina Carandang
Ruben Rustia
Peping Manalansan
Aida Carmona
Onyang
Juan Rodrigo
Ernie
Dindo Angeles
Mario
Cora Alforja
Cynthia
Mely Mallari
Diomy
Edwin O'Hara
Police 1
Mandy Bustamante
Police 2
Monette Alfon
Landlady
Teresita R. Sanchez
Dr. Trinidad
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 1, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
December 10, 2025
VOD & Digital Platforms
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mike de Leon
- Screenplay & Story
- Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., Raquel Villavicencio, Mike de Leon
- Original Score
- Lorrie Ilustre
- Original Title
- Kisapmata
- Country of Origin
- Philippines
- Spoken Languages
- Tagalog
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Production Studios
- Bancom Audiovision, Cinema Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mike de Leon
Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., Raquel Villavicencio, Mike de Leon, Nick Joaquin
Lorrie Ilustre
Rody Lacap
Jess Navarro
Rolando S. Atienza, Simon C. Ongpin, Charo Santos
Department Leadership Roster
Simon C. Ongpin
Producer
Charo Santos
Producer
Lorrie Ilustre
Original Music Composer
Rody Lacap
Director of Photography
Jess Navarro
Editor
Cesar Hernando
Production Design
Mike de Leon
Director
Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.
Screenplay
Raquel Villavicencio
Screenplay
Mike de Leon
Screenplay
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Kisapmata.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Kisapmata.
list4
My Collection
All the Films I have on Hard Drives
Oct. 2026 Collection: Directed by Mike De Leon
One of the defining figures of Philippine cinema, Mike De Leon brought a razor-sharp formal precision, fierce political intelligence, and subversive edge to a remarkable array of genres. From the claustrophobic domestic horror of KISAPMATA to the harrowing college-hazing drama BATCH ’81 to the wild rock-opera satire WILL YOUR HEART BEAT FASTER?, his rigorous, intensely psychological films deploy potent symbolism and provocative allegory to attack patriarchy, abuse of power, and the authoritarian brutality of the Ferdinand Marcos regime.
Periodic import List
BD Release: 1981-1985
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - 1981-1985
Asian Horror Mix
Asian horror films that I like not including films from Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand or South Korea because I have made separate lists for them. (Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kisapmata
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Kisapmata about?
A young woman gets married but her authoritarian father refuses to let her out of his sight.
Who directed Kisapmata?
Kisapmata was directed by Mike de Leon.
Who stars in Kisapmata?
The principal cast of Kisapmata includes Charo Santos, Jay Ilagan, Vic Silayan, Charito Solis, Ruben Rustia.
When was Kisapmata released and how long is it?
Kisapmata was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 39m.
Who composed the musical score for Kisapmata?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Kisapmata was composed by Lorrie Ilustre.