Released at the height of the Marcos regime, the film uncovers the other face of Manila by depicting the ugly aspects of life in the city – unemployment, prostitution, drug addiction and lack of decent housing.

Considered one of Bernal's masterpieces, it is an epic multi-narrative of people who have shady pasts and are trying to exist in an unforgiving world.

For the production, Bernal came up with a sequence list, based on different locales, but decided to have the scenes improvised by a cast assembled from Regal Film's stable, as well as industry friends.

[3] The restored version was premiered as part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2020 exhibition.

[4] The film's original title is Manila by Night, but was later renamed to City After Dark for its initial release.