Who Invented the Yoyo? Who Invented the Moon Buggy? (Kidlat Tahimik, 1979)

“An idol of iconoclasts everywhere, a pioneer of the postcolonial essay film, and the grandfather of the Philippine New Wave…one of cinema’s true originals.” —UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

A truly sui generis filmmaker and protégé of Werner Herzog, Kidlat Tahimik is best known for his unexpected international hit Perfumed Nightmares. But this seldom-seen follow-up—perhaps one of the greatest unknown, shaggy-dog essay films—is also immensely entertaining and full of nonstop creativity. Part autobiography, part proudly Third World space spectacle, and part whatsit, the film sees Tahimik stranded in the German lands of “Yodelberg” as he dreams of playing a yo-yo on the moon while illustrating how even the global juggernaut of the American space program couldn’t get there without Philippine inventions. Chances to see this film are tragically rare, and it’s a film that has to be seen to be believed! (93 mins., video)