Synopsis:
Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok unravels the multiple layers of the almost mythological figure-living legend, Fang Od, a 92 year old woman who has been called the ‘Last [Traditional] Tattoo Artist of Kalinga.’ The first layer of the story is the one she is most famous for-being a tattoo artist. At her eyes, she continues to exhibit sharpness and precision in the very demanding art and skill of tattooing. The second layer shows her many stories as woman who has reached the age of looking back. She regales us with stories of her many suitors, of her youth, the dancing and the feasts. She also looks back with not just a tinge of regret that she never married nor had children of her own. Her body covered in tattoos is a landscape on its own mirroring the map of a woman who has chosen wittingly or unwittingly a road diverging from convention and in the process became a culture-bearer.
Director: Lauren Sevilla Faustino
Trailer:
Screenings
National Heritage Month
May 2018
UPFI Film Center
The Feminist Cinemateque Project
Saturday, November 14, 2015; 6:30 PM
Isis International, 3 Marunong Street Barangay Central, 1100 Quezon City, Philippines
https://www.facebook.com/events/1491886487807812
https://www.facebook.com/events/1543705385921262
![FREE SCREENING: Ang Babae Sa Likod Ng Mambabatok clock Saturday at 6:30pm - 9:30pm 2 days from now · 94°F / 74°F Partly Cloudy pin Show Map Isis International 3 Marunong Street Barangay Central, 1100 Quezon City, Philippines Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok unravels the multiple layers of the almost mythological figure-living legend, Fang Od, a 92 year old woman who has been called the ‘Last [Traditional] Tattoo Artist of Kalinga.’ The first layer of the story is the one she is most famous for-being a tattoo artist. At her eyes, she continues to exhibit sharpness and precision in the very demanding art and skill of tattooing. The second layer shows her many stories as woman who has reached the age of looking back. She regales us with stories of her many suitors, of her youth, the dancing and the feasts. She also looks back with not just a tinge of regret that she never married nor had children of her own. Her body covered in tattoos is a landscape on its own mirroring the map of a woman who has chosen wittingly or unwittingly a road diverging from convention and in the process became a culture-bearer. - Film Development Council of the Philippines - - - Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok documents the art and memories of a living legend, Fang Od, a 95-year old woman known as the ‘Last [Traditional] Tattoo Artist of Kalinga.’ The film delves into the dying tribal art of “batok” or hand-tap tattoo using thorns and soot in a process demanding sharp eyes and steady hands. Beyond the art itself, Fang Od’s memories open up a vista to authentic Kalingaculture in a remote mountain village animated by traditional dancing, songs and feasts. In her community, Apo Fang Od is a heroic culture bearer revered for her grip on a fading tradition. - Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society - - - "Special mention prizes were given to Lauren Sevilla Faustino’s “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok” and Sheron Dayoc’s “Chasing Fir](http://agimat.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/151114_mambabatok.jpg)
Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok unravels the multiple layers of the almost mythological figure-living legend, Fang Od, a 92 year old woman who has been called the ‘Last [Traditional] Tattoo Artist of Kalinga.’ The first layer of the story is the one she is most famous for-being a tattoo artist. At her eyes, she continues to exhibit sharpness and precision in the very demanding art and skill of tattooing.
The second layer shows her many stories as woman who has reached the age of looking back. She regales us with stories of her many suitors, of her youth, the dancing and the feasts. She also looks back with not just a tinge of regret that she never married nor had children of her own. Her body covered in tattoos is a landscape on its own mirroring the map of a woman who has chosen wittingly or unwittingly a road diverging from convention and in the process became a culture-bearer.
– Film Development Council of the Philippines
– – –
Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok documents the art and memories of a living legend, Fang Od, a 95-year old woman known as the ‘Last [Traditional] Tattoo Artist of Kalinga.’ The film delves into the dying tribal art of “batok” or hand-tap tattoo using thorns and soot in a process demanding sharp eyes and steady hands. Beyond the art itself, Fang Od’s memories open up a vista to authentic Kalingaculture in a remote mountain village animated by traditional dancing, songs and feasts. In her community, Apo Fang Od is a heroic culture bearer revered for her grip on a fading tradition.
– Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society
– – –
“Special mention prizes were given to Lauren Sevilla Faustino’s “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok” and Sheron Dayoc’s “Chasing Fireflies.”
Faustino’s docu, which tells the story of a Kalinga tattoo artist, was lauded by jurors for its “engaging subject matter … and captivating central character.””
– Best regional films show unity in diversity, INQUIRER.net
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“We then see various tattoos on the body of Fang Od. There is a reptile design here and a design copied from Chinese porcelain there. Nearly all of the designs are perfectly aligned. However, there are a couple of tattoos that seem amateurish. The story behind those seemingly out-of-place tattoos outshine all of the romantic stories and plotlines conceived by the Star Cinema writing factory so far.”
– sinepatrol.blogspot.com
