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    [EFF16S11] Session 11: Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?

    Cite as: Temple, Michael and Barrington, Matthew (2023): [EFF16S11] Session 11: Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow? Birkbeck College, University of London.

    Description

    22 March 2016, 19:30, ICA Cinema

    Film: Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow? [Bakit Dilaw Ang Kulay ng Bahaghari], Kidlat Tahimik, Philippines, 1994, 16mm, 175 minutes, English and Tagalog with English subtitles

    Kidlat Tahimik has often referred to filmmaking as the equivalent of a long trip. In Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?, that conception is fully developed as Kidlat and his son travel through a decade of political turmoil and natural catastrophes that have ravaged the Philippines. Assembled into chronologically ordered sections, each given a “colour of the rainbow”, plus an introduction and an epilogue, this is a monumental, personal and open-ended cinematic essay, chronicling the journeys of father and son, their encounters and rites of passage. It provides a window onto the universe of Kidlat Tahimik, espousing a utopian vision of life, nature and identity wide in its scope and implications.

    “In an age of rising seas and collapsing economies, the film shows us how to be furious at all the injustice in the world but also how to face that injustice with the utmost joy. There are indeed few, if any, films like this….” (Christopher Pavsek)

    With thanks to Cinematrix (Japan), Tobias Hering, Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art, Open City Documentary Festival, Goethe-Institut London.

    Previews


    1 - EFF16S11 Introduction (EFF16S11 Kidlat Why is yellow the middle of the rainbow Intro 22-3-2016.MP3)

    Collection Method

    The Essay Film Festival ran between 2015 and 2023, and presented a global range of contemporary and restored essayistic works. The events are now archived here for research purposes.

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    Metadata

    Dataset Title:

    [EFF16S11] Session 11: Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?
    Creators:

    Temple, Michael and Barrington, Matthew
    Dataset Contributors:

    ContributionNameEmailORCID
    CollaboratorMcCabe, Janetj.mccabe@bbk.ac.ukORCID logohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2916-9876
    CollaboratorYapp, Emmaeyapp01@student.bbk.ac.ukUNSPECIFIED
    Subjects:

    Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    Data collection method:

    The Essay Film Festival ran between 2015 and 2023, and presented a global range of contemporary and restored essayistic works. The events are now archived here for research purposes.
    Collection period:

    FromTo
    22 March 201622 March 2016
    Statement on legal, ethical, and access issues:

    All film stills were provided by participating artists.
    Depositing User: Emma Yapp
    Date Deposited: 06 Aug 2026 10:47
    Last Modified: 06 Aug 2026 10:47
    Publisher: Birkbeck College, University of London

    Export / Share Citation

    Cite as: Temple, Michael and Barrington, Matthew (2023): [EFF16S11] Session 11: Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow? Birkbeck College, University of London.

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