Zero (2011)
A four-minute Filipino short film by Dodo Dayao where a ghost story and a love story become one and the same.
Zero - Movie Information
- Original Title: Zero
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Dodo Dayao
- Type: Movie
- Runtime: 4m
- Original Language: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 1, 2011 (Philippines)
Zero - Plot
On his film Dodo wrote: "Whenever I'm asked what Zero is exactly, I tell them it's a ghost story. Also, a love story. And how they really are the same thing."
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Zero - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Dodo Dayao
Main Cast
- Carmina Cruz
- Ligaya Leccio
Zero - FAQs
What is Zero (2011) about?
Zero is a short film by Filipino director Dodo Dayao that exists at the intersection of two genres. In Dayao's own words, it's a ghost story and a love story — and how they really are the same thing. In just four minutes, it distills grief, longing, and the haunting nature of love into a single, quietly devastating experience.
Is Zero a ghost story or a love story?
It's both — and that's the whole point. Director Dodo Dayao has said that whenever he's asked what Zero is exactly, he answers that it's a ghost story and a love story, and that those two things are really the same. The film treats haunting and heartbreak as inseparable, two faces of the same emotional truth.
Who directed Zero and what is his style?
Zero was directed by Dodo Dayao, a Filipino filmmaker known for his atmospheric, poetic approach to genre cinema. Dayao later gained wider recognition with his feature Bliss (2017), a psychological horror film. His work consistently blurs the line between the supernatural and the deeply personal, and Zero is an early, concentrated example of that sensibility.
Where can you watch Zero (2011)?
You can check streaming availability for Zero on JustWatch, which tracks current viewing options across platforms in your region. Given the film's short runtime and niche status as a Philippine short film, availability may be limited, but JustWatch is the best place to find any current options for renting, purchasing, or streaming it.
How long is the film Zero (2011)?
Zero runs just four minutes — making it a micro-short rather than a conventional short film. That extreme brevity is part of its identity. Dayao packs an entire emotional world into those four minutes, using economy of storytelling to create something that feels much larger and more haunting than its runtime might suggest.
Who are the actors in Zero (2011)?
The film features Carmina Cruz and Ligaya Leccio in its cast. The cinematography was handled by Allan C. Balberona, whose visual work contributes significantly to the film's ghostly, intimate atmosphere. Given the short's four-minute runtime, the performances are necessarily concentrated and impressionistic rather than conventionally developed.
When and where was Zero (2011) released?
Zero was released on January 1, 2011, in the Philippines. It's a Filipino production that emerged from the country's vibrant independent short film scene, which has produced a number of internationally recognized works. The film's New Year's Day release date carries a certain poetic resonance given its themes of memory and loss.
What films are similar to Zero (2011)?
If Zero's blend of love and the supernatural appeals to you, films like Girl Haunts Boy (2024), The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021), and Endless (2020) explore similar territory where romance and the ghostly intertwine. For something more classic, Return to Me (2000) and Kiss Me Goodbye (1982) also navigate love across the boundary between the living and the lost.
More About Zero
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