Apocalypse Child

After Francis Ford Coppola shot Apocalypse Now (1979) in Baler, Philippines, his crew unintentionally transformed the small town into a future surfing destination after a surfboard from the movie set was left behind. Apocalypse Child is a fictional drama about Ford, a surfing instructor who has been told all his life that his Filipina mom was impregnated by Coppola. While his mother petitions the director to acknowledge Ford as his son, Ford is seemingly unfazed, content with his beach bum lifestyle, until the return of his childhood best friend, now a local congressman, threatens his dreamlike existence.

Through idyllic scenes of Baler’s landscape, Apocalypse Child shines a light on how its characters use surf culture to withdraw from reality. Feelings of underachievement, the weight of unexpected pregnancies, the denial of abuse— Ford and the people closest to him desire escape, hoping that as each wave washes to shore, so will the harsh realities of the past. Director Mario Cornejo’s laid- back, simplistic approach to storytelling takes the viewer on a compelling journey of escape into the surf, sun, and sprawling beaches—and one can’t help but want to dive in.

This programme is free for students and seniors!
You can pick up your tickets ahead of time in-person at the TIFF Box Office (350 King Street West). Please present your student ID. A limit of 2 tickets per person.