BATCH 81
Philippines, 1982, 108 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Mike De Leon.
This is a very tough film, made during the years of Martial Law by classic director Mike de Leon.
At the centre of the film is a group of students who are at college of the University. In the American vein, there is a fraternity with its Greek capital letters, its ethos of bonding and, particularly the action of this film, initiation rites and some brutal hazing.
The film focuses on one of the students, a potential leader, but one who is absolutely committed to belonging to the fraternity, willing to undergo all the tests, encouraging fellow students, some of whom waver, arguing the case, becoming more and more committed – and, it is easy to see that he might develop into the kind of character of the senior student who is overseeing the hazing.
The scenes of the hazing can be quite confronting, the physical brutality, emotional humiliation, the sexual repercussions.
In retrospect, the film can be seen in the light of the ethos of Martial Law at the beginning of the 1980s, the discipline of dictatorship, the pressure on individuals who feel themselves weaker and want to opt out, the reinforcement of strict attitudes by those who are committed to a cause.
There is some background of the family and relationships but these are secondary to the focus on the experiences of Batch 81.
1. The status of the film? A classic? Digitally restored?
2. The impact of the story, the characters, at college, the fraternities, the hazing? The American influence? In the context of the 1980s? In the context of the years of Martial Law and the reference to Martial Law?
3. The fraternity, the chapters on the hazing, the headings on the screen, the descriptions, the motivations and effects, the slogans and chants?
4. The college, the buildings, the theatre, the basement, the use of the rooms for the hazing? The contrast with the home sequences? The classroom sequence? The insistent score?
5. The credibility of the plot, this behaviour in the 1980s, the 1980s audience? Later audiences, in the light of Martial Law?
6. Colleges, fraternities, the explanation of alpha kappa omega and the significance of the Greek letters? The ethos?
7. The importance of brotherhood, the sense of belonging, the fierce desire for the young men to belong, and even for the teacher who had no friends even though married? The emphasis throughout the dialogue of this deep-seated need for fraternity?
8. The rituals of hazing, the reasons, the nature of the behaviour, brutal, sexual, sadistic, humiliating…?
9. The introduction to the characters, the decisions of the young men to join the fraternity, to go through the initiation rituals? The variety of the characters, the son of the senator and the expectations of his father, his wanting to drop out? The teacher and his wanting fraternity? The other young men, their characters, getting to know them throughout the rituals? The importance of Sid and his presence, taller, more striking, leadership?
10. Vince and his associate, embodying the ethos of the fraternity, their role in imposing the rituals, the touch of the sadistic, leering, brutal? How convincing their belief in what they were doing? The assistant and his being humiliated in the classroom, photographed?
11. The use of blindfolds, the stripping (and the sounds of girls laughing and the discovery that it was on a tape recorder)? The young man dropping out because he refused to strip? The beatings, the rituals and the beating of the buttocks? The blindfolds and their being led to different rooms? Kneeling, prostrating themselves? The ritual of the drink in the spitting on the drink? The boy being sick? Photographed? The set up with the girl, the sexual encounter and its being filmed and the others watching, reaction when he discovered the truth? The young men and their defence? The boy’s father coming and his boy in the chair, the electric shock, having to have the right answers, especially about Martial Law? The questions, the others having to press the button? The irony of it being set up, the boy obeying his father and being congratulated by him? The reinforcement of trust and loyalty in the group?
12. The psychological effect of the hazing on the men, some criticisms, the group going along with what was asked despite their difficulties?
13. Sid, his leadership, his intensity, believing the propaganda about the fraternity, the need for brotherhood, defying the others, criticising them? His talk with the girlfriend and her wanting to break off, his choice between her and the fraternity? His rationalising the remarks of the leadership?
14. Sid, his mother, divorce, going to America, his possibilities, wanting to remain?
15. The theatre, rehearsals for Cabaret, the long performance of the songs from Cabaret, the kinkiness of the original, and the fact that this was the fraternity’s choice, cross-dressing, sexual innuendo? The contrast with the other group and their indigenous rituals?
16. The boy with the girl, the leader of the other group and his defence of his sister, picking the fight?
17. The brutality of the fight, Mano a Mano, the time limits, rules, forgetting the rules, the bludgeonings, the beatings, knives, deaths? The aftermath and Vincent talk about not being caught and denying what had happened?
18. Sid’s mother and the aftermath?
19. The climax of the film, the young men, blindfolded, beaten on the buttocks again, then given the candles, all the members of the fraternity coming, singing Gaudeamus Igitur? Their acceptance?
20. Images of fascism, totalitarianism, dictatorships, young men wanting to belong, not counting the cost, being humiliated, but being rewarded by acceptance?
