KALI MEANS TO SCRAPE
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SYNOPSIS
     ‘Kali Means to Scrape’ is a 30 minute documentary shot in the rough-and-tumble neighborhoods of the Philippines. It follows the progress of American stick-fighter and martial arts enthusiast, Nick Papadakis, as he scours the countryside in search of Kali masters - a deadly art that involves weapons and intense physical training. It was Nick’s passion for martial arts that inspired him to become a full-contact fighter and later, to handcraft some of the finest martial arts sticks in the business; but he wanted to learn from the real masters of Filipino techniques. He had to see for himself the people for whom Kali is a way of life. Fortunately for us, he brought along a DV camera. “The indigenous arts of the Philippines lacks documentation,” says the mayor of one village in the film, “considering that it is practiced by close-knit families and groups.” So in this respect, as a filmmaker, Nick Papadakis is a trailblazer. From coast-to-countryside Kali is taught in backyards, around cooking fires and in villages, as a means for farmers to defend themselves against bandits and gangs. There’s no formal institution - Kali is an art of the people. It is tradition. Training sessions come about in the midst of conversations and traditionally secret moonlight training sessions; its lessons revealed as much through storytelling as it is through physical expression. Join Nick as he ventures the Philippines with his guide, Jeffrey Montelibano, (a native cook-for-hire and Kali aficionado), as they explore the art with the old masters of this ancient art: Kali.

 

A FILM BY

NICK PAPADAKIS

  
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