Experiencing Interruptions?

We Who Are Trapped

Leonard is having recurring nightmares of a childhood memory. Seeking help from his grandmother, he finds out the devastating truth about his dreams. He attends a support group that helps him face the horrors of his past and have the courage to finally find peace.

  • Michael Pagaduan
    Director
  • Michael Pagaduan
    Writer
  • Matt Daclan
    Key Cast
    "Leonard"
  • Jill Palencia-Ibuyan
    Key Cast
    "Shelley"
  • Lui Manansala
    Key Cast
    "Lola"
  • David Pagaduan
    Key Cast
    "Young Leonard"
  • Jeariel Mira
    Director of Photography
  • Jacky Collins & Isabella Caja
    Production Designers
  • Katrina Sonaco
    Production Manager
  • Bong & Karen Pagaduan
    Executive Producers
  • Mich Garcia
    Editor
  • Gi Ilagan & Justin Nograles
    Assistant Directors
  • Tashana Rivera
    Sound
  • Patricia Lasaten
    Musical Scorer
  • Seymour B. Sanchez
    Creative Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Kaming Mga Nakakulong
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Psychological, Mystery, Drama
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 8 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 7, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    1,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Philippines
  • Language:
    Other
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Cinemapua 2017 Student Film Festival
    Intramuros, Manila
    Philippines
    January 23, 2017
    World Premiere
    Best Festival Film, Best Director
  • Sinepiyu 2017 Intercollegiate Film Festival
    Sampaloc, Manila
    Philippines
    April 26, 2017
    Official Selection
  • CineSB7 Film Festival
    Taft Avenue, Manila
    Philippines
    July 31, 2017
    Outstanding Performance by an Actor
  • Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video (The 29th CCP Independent Film & Video Festival)
    Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
    Philippines
    August 5, 2017
    Official Selection
  • Cinema Rehiyon 9
    Nabunturan, Compostela Valley
    Philippines
    August 23, 2017
    Official Selection
  • 3rd Quisumbing Escandor Film Festival for Health
    Manila
    Philippines
    February 3, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Pelikultura 2018 Film Festival
    Los Banos, Laguna
    Philippines
    February 21, 2018
    Official Selection
  • 2nd Guild of Mentors, Educators, and Students (GEMS) Awards
    Muntinlupa City
    Philippines
    March 2, 2018
    Best Students’ Short Film Award
  • Aseannale 2018
    Diliman, Quezon City
    Philippines
    March 2, 2018
  • 9th Largabista Film Festival
    Tacloban City
    Philippines
    March 3, 2018
    Official Selection
  • 5th Urduja Film Festival
    Lingayen, Pangasinan
    Philippines
    October 9, 2018
    Best Film, Best Actor
Director Biography - Michael Pagaduan

Michael Pagaduan was born in Manila, Philippines on June 20, 1995. MJ, as he's called by his friends and family, showed interest in writing stories as early as 2007 when he was just in elementary school. MJ also acted and directed in stage plays back in high school. All these led him to take up Bachelor of Arts in Digital Filmmaking at the College of Saint Benilde, one of the finest film schools in the Philippines. There, he honed his craft and eventually made We Who Are Trapped as his thesis film. We Who Are Trapped is now making rounds in different film festivals in the Philippines.

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Director Statement

“We are a generation of men raised by women.” This is a line said by Brad Pitt’s character, Tyler Durden, from the movie Fight Club. That line is true for this generation. More and more families are broken. More and more men fail to fulfil their roles as fathers. They abandon their children literally and figuratively. This is turn leaves the abandoned children to the hands of their mothers. Although these mothers are doing a great job in raising their children, the lack of a father figure affects the emotional and psychological growth of the children especially the boys. These traumatic experiences leave a lasting effect and it becomes so hard to overcome and becomes a burden for the rest of a man’s life. It traps the person into thinking that they can’t do anything about it. They think that they are the result of their life experiences. The world tells them that it’s okay and they can’t do anything about it. These boys are emasculated because of this and it continues to shatter the identity of being a man. In this day and age, what is really a man?

This short film aims to show that no matter how dark our past is there is still hope and that we aren’t slaves of our past, our traumatic experiences, and the lies of the world. It also hopes to show everyone that even if our earthly fathers abandoned us literally and figuratively, we still have a Father. And that Father loves us unconditionally to the point of sending His own son to die for us and freed us from the clutches of our past. This is the kind of freedom that gives us hope. And that hope makes us victorious through all the ups and downs of life. A kind of hope that even if our world is falling apart right in front of our own eyes, we can still have inner peace.