Moral

Moral

Year: 1982

Runtime: 138 mins

Language: Tagalog

Director: Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Drama

Set against the backdrop of the early years of martial law, the film follows four college friends whose lives intersect in a series of episodic vignettes. As the political climate tightens, each struggles to understand and pursue his or her sexual identity and professional ambitions, navigating love, desire and the pressures of a changing society.

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Timeline & Setting – Moral (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Moral (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

University of the Philippines Diliman

The film is set around the University of the Philippines Diliman, capturing campus life and the early adulthood of four friends. It showcases student culture, friendships, and the beginnings of personal and political awakenings. The setting grounds the characters in a Philippine urban milieu where academics intertwine with family expectations and social change.

🎓 Campus 📚 Education

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:01

Main Characters – Moral (1982)

Meet the key characters of Moral (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sylvia (Sandy Andolong)

A teacher who separates from her husband Robert and shares custody of their son. She begins a relationship with Ernie, but ends things when she discovers his wife is alive. Her arc centers on seeking authentic connections and emotional steadiness beyond prior commitments.

🎭 Drama 💬 Relationship 🕊️ Freedom

Maggie (Laurice Guillen)

Maritess and Joey's friend who provides steady support through their trials. She acts as a grounding presence in the group and helps navigate the complexities of love, motherhood, and independence.

🎭 Drama 💞 Friendship 🤝 Support

Joey (Lorna Tolentino)

A deeply conflicted young woman who experiments with relationships and struggles with pregnancy. Her journey includes a miscarriage and the realization of the limits of her plans, set against the backdrop of her friendships and activism intertwined with Jerry.

🎭 Drama 💔 Heartbreak 💃 Rebellion

Maritess (Anna Marin)

A newly married woman who craves freedom and equality in her relationship. She experiences postpartum depression and marital strain, ultimately confronting abuse and choosing to leave, then returning on the condition of mutual respect.

🎭 Drama 💔 Abuse 🕊️ Freedom

Jerry (Michael Sandico)

An activist who is involved with Joey and later joins the rebellion in the mountains. His involvement marks the political backdrop of the film, and his fate has a lasting impact on those around him.

🎭 Drama 🗳️ Politics 💔 Loss

Ernie (Ernie Garcia)

A teacher who enters a relationship with Sylvia, later revealed to have a complex personal life with multiple partners. His relationship with Sylvia is a pivotal moment, illustrating the complexities of trust and commitment.

🎭 Drama 💬 Relationships 🔎 Secrets

Robert (Juan Rodrigo)

Sylvia's ex-husband with whom she shares custody of their son. His continued presence in Sylvia's life reflects the lingering ties of past relationships as new bonds form.

🎭 Drama 💔 Relationship 👨‍👦 Family

Kathy (Gina Alajar)

A mediocre singer whose career is steered by a controlling talent agent. She sustains a public persona and makes choices about fame, including intimate favors to secure opportunities, before choosing to sing for fun rather than career advancement.

🎭 Drama 💡 Ambition 🧪 Image-control

JM (Odette Khan)

A lesbian talent agent who emphasizes image over talent and leverages relationships to maintain her client’s fame. She embodies the commodification of female artists in the industry.

🎭 Drama 🔗 Power dynamics 🧭 Influence

Dodo (Ronald Bregendahl)

Maritess's husband who commits a rape against her, catalyzing a turning point in her life. He later becomes part of the ongoing tension and complexity within their marriage as Maritess seeks equality.

🎭 Drama 💥 Violence ⚖️ Equality

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:01

Major Themes – Moral (1982)

Explore the central themes of Moral (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💪 Autonomy

The four friends test the boundaries of personal freedom within intimate relationships. Maritess seeks equality in her marriage and questions traditional roles, highlighting women's agency in a conservative setting. Kathy's public image and sexual negotiations reveal how society commodifies female talent and bodies. The film portrays autonomy as a continual negotiation between desire, obligation, and social expectation.

🤝 Friendship

Friendship endures amid conflict and competing loyalties. The women support one another through betrayals, birth, and heartbreak, illustrating resilience and solidarity. The final car ride scene cements their bond as they navigate an uncertain future together.

👶 Motherhood

Motherhood acts as a catalyst for identity shifts, as Maritess copes with postpartum depression and the challenge of child care. Joey's pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage underline the fragility of women's plans when faced with medical and social pressures. The film portrays the emotional toll of motherhood and the limits of support within families. It also contrasts the different paths women take—from seeking help to reshaping relationships—as they balance new life with personal dreams.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:01

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Moral Summary

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Moral Summary

Moral Timeline

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Moral Timeline

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