AL and ER: Boys in Love
AL and ER is an LGBT-themed short film in the context of the Philippines' current socio-political situation. AL and ER is Kayumanggi Kolektib's first content out of an anthology of other short films to follow. Through…
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, young couple Al (Jomari Angeles) and Er (Jerom Canlas) are trapped in a Manila apartment, their savings gone and jobs lost. Hunger and desperation push them to a harrowing crossroads: Er suggests selling erotic videos online to survive, while Al fears the shame and danger of being exposed. Shot in a single, unbroken take, this raw and gripping short film captures every tense heartbeat and whispered argument. It’s not just a love story—it’s a stark, honest look at the economic and social pressures crushing LGBTQ+ Filipinos during a global crisis. Can their bond withstand the ultimate test of survival?