Three Filipino films were selected to screen at the 66th Cannes Film Festival on May 15 to 26, 2013.
Lav Diaz’s “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” (North, the End of History), Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Death March” are among the more than 40 films chosen from the 1,700 entries competing in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ category, while Erik Matti’s “On the Job” will join the Directors’ Fortnight.
The Un Certain Regard section is said to be the experimental part of the world cinema event as it showcases cutting-edge and daring works.
The Director’s Fortnight s a noncompetitive independently programmed section that is held parallel to the main competition of Cannes. Its goal is to help filmmakers get discovered by critics and audiences alike, according to its website.
“Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan,” starring Sid Lucero, Angeli Bayani, Archie Alemania, and Soliman Cruz among others is about the stories of labor migration and economic progress in the village of La Paz, in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
“Death March” on the other hand is a war drama that recounts how the Imperial Japanese soldiers, who occupied the Philippines during World War II, forced some 80,000 Filipino and American prisoners to walk for 128 kilometers after the three-month Battle of Bataan, which was marked with physical abuse and murder.
It is starred by Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo, Sid Lucero, Carlo Aquino, Jason Abalos, Felix Roco and Jacky Woo.
Matti’s film “On the Job” is an action thriller, which features an all-star cast Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Joel Torre, Angel Aquino, Michael de Mesa, Leo Martinez, Joey Marquez, Rayver Cruz, Shaina Magdayao, Empress Schuck, Vivian Velez, Al Tantay and Nino Muhlach.
It was inspired by a real-life corruption case that involved prisoners being released for a day to work as assassins for politicians.
Other works of Filipino filmmakers were also screened in the Directors’ Fortnight in the past Cannes Film Festival. Among the famous names and their films are: Lino Brocka (“Bona”, 1981), Mike de Leon (“Kisapmata,” “Batch 81,” 1982), Mario O’ hara (“Babae sa Breakwater,” 2004), Brillante Mendoza (“Foster Child,” 2007), Raya Martin (“Now Showing,” 2008) and Aureaeus Solito (“Busong,” 2011).
Meanwhile, Diaz and Alix join Sofia Coppola and 11 other directors in the Un Certain Regard Section.
