Filipino director takes new look at Bataan march

ZANJOE Marudo in Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Death March” file photo

MANILA, Philippines—A film that weaves together stories of the anguish and desperation of American and Filipino soldiers during the notorious Bataan Death March could have been shot on location in a large-scale production.

Filipino director Borinaga Alix Jr. instead chose to film “Death March” in black-and-white and almost entirely inside a studio using hand-painted backdrops, with close-ups of actors’ painted faces portraying their struggle with nightmares and hallucinations in one of the bloodiest episodes of World War II.

“Death March” is competing against 17 other movies at the Cannes Film Festival that opens Wednesday, including Sofia Coppola’s “The Bling Ring” and French director Claire Denis’ “Les Salauds” as well as another Filipino film. The entries are made in the category for art house and experimental films.