Hailed as “the ideological father of the New Philippine Cinema” by the Venice Film Festival, Lav Diaz is known for illuminating his country’s present by interrogating its past. With The Halt, he shifts his focus to the future. The year is 2034, and the Philippines has been plunged into eternal darkness by a succession of volcanic eruptions. The nation is ruled by a mad dictator who is aided by two ruthless female Special Forces agents who carry out his summary executions. Menacing drones check IDs to keep citizens in check. But in the darkness, a revolution is forming thanks to a rock star-turned-dissident and a psychologist trying to change minds. Like most of Diaz’s films, The Halt is long, but as always, its deftly paced narrative immerses you in this sharp political satire predicated on the choice between violent or peaceful resistance.