Pinoy 'animist' film premieres at Cannes

source: gmanews

Filipino filmmaker Auraeus Solito’s dream film Busong, which he described as “very minimalist," premiered last night at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight to a standing ovation.

Frederic Boyer, artistic director of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, told Solito before the screening:

“You are about to open a world that no one has ever seen before. So different from other films from the Philippines in the past. I cannot describe it... Maybe it could be called ‘Palawanee’."

Solito said the script is only 15 pages long. “It’s mostly images," he said in an interview on GMA News’ News to Go last May 5.

The film is part homage to the breathtaking landscapes of Palawan province and the rich myths and traditions of the Palawan tribe.

“Matagal na palakpakan, tumayong tatlong beses," shared Solito on his Facebook page, where he thanked the Creator for the successful premiere. “Salamat ampuh sa manungang panimula," he wrote.

Busong, Solito’s fifth feature film, is the first Palawanon indigenous feature film. Titled after the Palawan concept of fate or instant karma, the film focuses on how nature reacts instantly to man’s disrespect of nature and other men.


Busong is among 21 feature films in this year’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, a parallel event to the main showcase featuring established filmmakers such as Pedro Almodovar and Lars von Trier.

Busong has Alessandra de Rossi as its lead star, playing a grotesquely diseased Palawanon who must be carried in a hammock everywhere. Other cast members include Clifford Banagale, Rodrigo Santikan, Bonivie Budao, Vincent Magbanua, Mina Tesorio, and Dax Alejandro.

Between documentary and fiction

Boyer said Busong transcends the border between documentary and fiction.

“The film deals with animism and is very close to nature. It has been shot without any apparent wish to be selected in Cannes or to be picked by a co-producer," he said in his comments on this year's selection.

Busong will premiere locally in July in the Directors Showcase of Cinemalaya, which partially funded the film and permitted its world premiere at Cannes.

“Eto yung dream ng bawat filmmaker sa mundo na makapasok," said Solito.

Aimee Santos-Lyons, a Filipino who had seen the movie in Cannes, sounded enraptured on her Facebook page: “Busong in Cannes... the film is heartbreaking... poetic... eloquent. Panoorin dapat ng bawat Pilipino!.".

Inspired by Brocka

Solito, like many other Filipino filmmakers, said it was the late Lino Brocka who inspired him.

When Brocka made it to Cannes in 1979 with Insiang, Solito thought, “Kaya ko rin gawin ito."

Other Filipino filmmakers who made it to the international festival were Mike de Leon in 1982 with Batch ‘81 and Kisap Mata, Mario O’Hara in 2003 with Babae sa Breakwater, Brillante Mendoza in 2007 with Foster Child, and Raya Martin in 2008 with Now Showing.

Solito dedicated the success of Busong to his mother.

“This is for my mom. Kasi siya ang nagkwento sa akin ng pamamaraan ng mga tribo. Ito rin yung parang gift ng universe na nagkasabay-sabay, birthday niya yung first premiere ng pelikula tungkol sa mga kwento niya," he said.

Solito, though born outside of tribal land, comes from the Palawan tribe. He is one of the leading independent filmmakers from the Philippines, and is not new to international acclaim.

His first feature film, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, won 15 international awards, and has brought Solito to Montreal, Toronto, Okinawa, Utah, Berlin, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, New York, Las Palmas in Spain, Sydney, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Warsaw, and London.

The feature film was also named one of the Ten Best Films of the Decade (2000-2009) by Gawad Urian.

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros was followed by Tuli (2006), Pisay (2008), and Boy (2009).


source: gmanews