Tomas and the Huks

Overview

"This film tells the story of Tomas, a young boy living in the Philippines who becomes a Hukbalahap, or "Huk" — a member of a communist guerrilla movement formed by Filipino peasant farmers, originally to resist the Japanese Army. After Tomas helps a farmer reload his overturned rice cart, he is targeted by the communist Huks for recruitment to their cause. The Huks indoctrinate Tomas, talking to him for hours until he decides to leave his home and join them. The Huks send Tomas to speak with the farmer about sharing his rice, but this turns out to be a diversion. When the farmer stands up for his rights, one of the Huks stabs him with a machete and takes his rice. As the film ends, Tomas realizes that he has become a murderer and will be trapped in a miserable existence as a Huk forever. The film is presented in the form of a puppet show" (US National Archives).