The movie Perfumed Nightmare, also known as Mababangong Bangungot in the Philippines, is a 1977 film directed by Kidlat Tahimik. The film features a mix of documentary footage and fictional storytelling to explore the clash between traditional Filipino culture and Western modernity.
The protagonist of the film is Kidlat Tahimik himself, who plays a version of himself as a village tour guide who dreams of leaving his rural life behind to become a part of the space age future promised by America. He spends his days leading tourists through his village and showing them the rituals and customs of his people, while at night he listens to the Voice of America broadcasts on the radio and imagines a world of rocket ships and advanced technology.
Despite his fascination with Western modernity, Tahimik also has a strong attachment to his Filipino culture and heritage. He forms a fan club for the German rocket scientist Werner von Braun, but rather than simply admiring the scientist's achievements, the club members also perform traditional Filipino dances and wear traditional clothing at their meetings.
When an American businessman comes to the village for an aborted international conference, he offers Tahimik a job running a chewing-gum-ball machine concession on the streets of Paris. Tahimik sees this as his chance to finally become a part of the Western world, and he eagerly accepts the offer.
In Paris, Tahimik is confronted with the reality of Western modernity and its impact on traditional culture. He makes friends with other immigrants and artists, but also encounters racism and hostility. In Germany, he visits the Volkswagen factory and sees firsthand the dehumanizing effects of industrial production.
Despite these challenges, Tahimik refuses to abandon his ideals and culture. He resigns from his position as head of the Werner von Braun fan club and chooses to forge his own path, combining elements of traditional Filipino culture with modern artistic expression.
Perfumed Nightmare is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film that explores the tension between tradition and progress, individualism and community, and personal fulfillment and societal expectations. It is a powerful critique of Western modernity and an affirmation of the importance of honoring cultural heritage and personal authenticity.
