SYNOPSIS
The Pineda family operates a run-down movie house in a city in the province, which shows dated sexy double-feature films. The family has taken up actual residence in the old building as well. The matriarch Nanay Flor, her daughter Nayda, son-in-law Lando and adopted daughter Jewel take turns manning the ticket booth and the canteen. Her nephews Alan and Ronald are the billboard painter and projectionist respectively.

Nanay Flor had filed a bigamy case against her estranged husband and is attending the court hearing today when, after a number of years, the decision will be finally handed down. It is within this context that the story unfolds. As the rest of the members go about their daily activities, we get a glimpse of how they suffer and deal with each other's sins and vices -- relational, economic or sexual.

Alan, who is financially unprepared for marital responsibility, feels oppressed by his pregnant girlfriend's demand of marriage. Nayda, who entered marriage out of tradition, is torn between marital fidelity and her ambiguous attraction towards her cousin Ronald. Nanay Flor, who loses the case, feels betrayed not only by the court judge but also by her son who testified in favor of his favor.

Preoccupied with their personal demons, the family in unmindful that inside the movie theater, another kind of business is going on between the "serbis" boys (male prostitutes) and the gay patrons.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Brillante Ma. Mendoza was born in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. He was a Fine Arts major who studied advertising at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He started his career as a production designer in feature films, television, and theater and eventually in television advertising. His production design work was featured in acclaimed local films such as TAKAW TUKSO (FLIRTING WITH TEMPTATION, 1986), PRIVATE SHOW (1986), OLONGAPO (THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM, 1987), and many others.

From feature films, Brillante then moved on to television commercial productions, and became one of the most sought-after and in-demand production designers. From 1990 to 2004, he designed the production for commercials of most major companies such as Asia Brewery, Globe, Jollibee, McDonald's, Proctor & Gamble Philippines, PLDT, San Miguel Brewery, SMar and Unilever Philippines. This brought him close working relationships with politicians and some of the biggest names in Filipino entertainment industry.

His first feature film MASAHISTA (THE MASSEUR), made in 2005, won a Golden Leopard award (co-winner) in the videos section at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, as well as the Interfaith Award in 2006 Brisbane Film Festival and the Audience Award in Turin.

His subsequent films won further major international awards. MANORO (THE AETA TEACHER, 2006) won the CinemAvvenir at the Torino Film Festival 2006 and Best Picture and Director awards at the Cinemanila 2006. KALENDO (SUMMER HEAT) won the Netpac Award in Jeonju 2007 and the Best Actress Award in Durban 2007. FOSTER CHILD won the Best Actress award in New Delhi 2007, Special Jury award in Kazakhstan 2007 and the Signis Award in La Palmas 2008. TIRADOR won the Special Jury award in Marrakech in 2007 and the Caligari Award in Berlin Film Festival 2008. It was also given the Best Film, Director and Netpac awards in the 2008 Singapore International Film Festival.

SERBIS is a co-production of the Philippines and France's Swift Production. It won script funding from the Asian Cinema Fund of the 2007 Pusan International Film Festival, and participated in the 2008 Hong Kong Asian Film Financing Forum [HAF].

Filmography
2008 SERBIS
2007 TIRADOR (SLINGSHOT)
2007 FOSTER CHILD (JOHN JOHN)
2006 THE AETA TEACHER (MANORO)
2006 SUMMER HEAT (KALELDO)
2005 THE MASSEUR (MASAHISTA)