Filmed in 1970s Manila, at the height of dictatorship in the Philippines, Manila in the Claws of Night is above all else a political statement—against tyranny, yes, but more significantly, against imperialism, capitalism, and class divide. It’s a weighty film, but director Lino Brocka, with help from cinematographer Mike de Leon, balances his potent ideas with stunning visuals. He captures Manila’s essence perfectly: neon signages point to its crippled reliance on capitalism, while the clash of old structures and weak new buildings point to colonialism’s reigning grip. Those familiar with the wrought history of the Philippines (or other third-world countries subjugated and then forgotten by Western powers, for that matter) will relate to Julio’s struggles. Those who aren’t, however, are in for an eye-opening experience.

That one scene set in a construction site still haunts me to this day, a decade after I first saw this film.