Eddie Romero

Edgar Sinco Romero (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013) was an influential Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter, considered one of the finest in the Cinema of the Philippines. Romero was named National Artist of the Philippines in 2003. His career spans three generations of filmmakers. His 1976 film Ganito Kami Noon…Paano Kayo Ngayon?, set at the turn of the 20th century during the revolution against the Spaniards and, later, the American colonizers, follows a naïve peasant through his leap of faith to become a member of an imagined community. Agila situates a family’s story against the backdrop of the country’s history. Kamakalawa explores the folklore of prehistoric Philippines. Banta ng Kahapon, his 'small' political film, is set against the turmoil of the late 1960s, tracing the connection of the underworld to the corrupt halls of politics. His 13-part series of Noli Me Tangere brings Philippine national hero José Rizal's novel to a new generation of viewers. Along with Filipino language films, he made English language films that became cult classics, like Black Mama, White Mama and The Twilight People and worked with American actors like John Ashley and Pam Grier. Romero's films, the National Artist citation states, "are delivered in an utterly simple style – minimalist, but never empty, always calculated, precise and functional, but never predictable." Quentin Tarantino has drawn upon Romero's film Twilight People as an inspiration for his "grindhouse" homages. Married to Carol Gonzalez, Romero was for a time the partner of actress Mila del Sol. He died of a blood clot and prostate cancer on May 28, 2013. He is survived by three children.