Raw, unflinching and absolutely wonderful. The oppressiveness of life in Manila is, rather than the centerpiece, an ever lingering backdrop to the film, intruding upon the plot only because of inescapable reality. Instead, the story focuses on Julio's search for his girlfriend in a simple but captivating mystery that often gets sidetracked by a struggle for survival. It's all very well balanced and, while a little loose in pacing, comes together wonderfully at the end.