Isabel Sandoval's 'Moonglow': A Flawed Yet Stylish Noir

Writer-director Isabel Sandoval returns to her native Philippines with "Moonglow," a vintage crime story steeped in passion and corruption, set in 1979 during Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship. The film, which premiered in competition at Rotterdam, evokes the stylish atmosphere of classic film noir, drawing comparisons to "Chinatown" and "In the Mood for Love."

"Moonglow" follows Dahlia, a femme fatale who robs her associate, police chief Bernal. As Bernal's nephew, Charlie, investigates, a past romance between Dahlia and Charlie rekindles, complicating the murder mystery and exposing widespread corruption, including shady real estate developments.

Visually elegant and colorfully designed, the film showcases Sandoval's graceful visual storytelling. However, it falters in its pacing and dialogue, with laconic performances that may not fully engage audiences. Despite these critiques, "Moonglow" successfully channels old-school noir ambience and notably avoids making gender a central plot point, distinguishing it from Sandoval's previous work.