Imbisibol (2015): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2015, Imbisibol is a drama film directed by Lawrence Fajardo, running about 132 minutes. “Longing to remain unseen.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Imbisibol essays the lives of four Filipino migrants in Japan – Linda, Benjie, Manuel and Rodel – who are toiling in a foreign land to give their families in the Philippines a better quality of life. The story revolves around the joys and struggles of Linda, a Filipina married to a Japanese salaryman who is torn between helping undocumented Filipinos stay in Japan by renting out rooms to them and succumbing to the demands of her husband to evict the Filipinos and save their marriage; Benjie, an undocumented worker who has been jumping from one odd job to another in the last 17 years and desires to go home already and be with his children; Manuel, an aging male entertainer who is struggling with his insecurities and his addiction to gambling; and Rodel, an idealistic newcomer who encounters a rising tension and rivalry with another Filipino at work.

Who’s in it. Imbisibol stars Allen Dizon as Manuel, JM de Guzman as Rodel, Ces Quesada as Linda and Bernardo Bernardo as Benjie, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Imbisibol page.

If you liked it. Fans of Imbisibol tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.