A priceless experience in Venice

Not many are aware that the Philippines was well-represented in the recent Venice International Film Festival, considered as the world’s oldest and one of the most prestigious film events.

The nine-hour epic of rebel film director Lav Diaz titled Death in the Land of Encantos (Kagadanan sa Banwaan Ning mga Engkanto) earned not only the adulation of international film aficionados but even got a special mention award from the jury when it competed in the Orizzonti (Horizons) docu-feature section of the Venice Film Festival.

Former pop singer-turned-theater-and-film actor Roeder, who played the lead role in the black and white opus, flew to Italy to witness the glamour and prestige of being part of the Venice Filmfest.

“It was a truly priceless experience for me and the small Philippine contingent composed of Diaz and Perry Dizon, one of my co-actors,” shares Roeder for the exclusive one-on-one interview with The Philippine Star.

“The first screening was in an old theater called Sala Pasinetti in Lido, and we were amazed that people came and sat through the entire screening. We got sustained ovations after the movie and critics and moviegoers alike came and shook our hands and even hugged us,” he recalls.

In the film, Roeder played the fictional role of Benjamin Agusan, a Filipino poet who returned to his hometown of Padang in Bicol after the havoc wreak by super Typhoon Durian.

He wanders around the old villages meeting survivors and crossing paths with lovers.

Shot in Diaz’s signature black and white, the film expresses an inexhaustible belief in the regenerative power of both art and nature.

“All our sacrifices during principal photography of the film were worth it when I saw for myself how well-received the film was.

“It feels different when foreigners, most of whom haven’t even gone to our country, express their adulation and belief in Filipino filmmaking,” he enthuses.

Roeder and company had to travel by land to Bicol twice and shot their scenes right after the devastation of Typhoon Reming. “It wasn’t like mainstream movie-making when we had catering and air-conditioned vans where we can rest and take catnaps.”

He continues, “Working with Lav Diaz is an experience by itself.

“First, the script is given an hour before a take since Lav finalizes the lines on the set. The challenge is, the scenes are long and sometimes there are no lines, because Lav wants only to capture the emotions.

“You should forget there’s a camera as actors, we are often clueless where the scenes will take us to.”

He explains further that Lav’s style is not traditional, oftentimes a mixture of theatrical and filmic. “His shots are panoramic, we seldom get close-up and tight shots. Hindi importante kay Lav ang tinatawag nilang moment ng actors, mas mahalaga sa kanya that he captures the essence of a particular scene.”

Roeder adds that when he flew to Venice, he never even thought that he will be given royal treatment. “I was never told that we were to walk on the red carpet together with the big names and the luminaries. It was truly a proud moment for us not only being artists but being Filipinos to be given the same treatment they gave to the Hollywood artists. Ibang iba compared to the star system here.”

He is referring to celebrities like Brian de Palma, Ang Lee (whose film Se Jie won the Golden Lion) and Heath Ledger of the Brokeback Mountain fame.

Roeder shares with The Philippine Star some of these photographs.

“ I felt like an instant movie fan. Imagine, posing beside Heath Ledger and being an arm’s length away from Ang Lee.

“Parang kailan lang, napanood ko si Heath at galing na galing ako sa kanya sa Brokeback Mountain which was directed by Ang Lee, tapos kasama ko na sila sa isang room and we’re attending the same cocktails.”

Due to the buzz about the film in Venice, it was given a second screening at a bigger theater called Sala Perla, also in the Lido district. “Nakatagal sila ng nine hours at mukhang nagandahan naman sila sa film natin.

“In fact, we learned that it took a long time for the jury to deliberate about the merits of our film because some members of the jury apparently wanted it to win the top prize,” adds Roeder who was also in the Lav Diaz film Ang Ebolusyon ng Pamilyang Pilipino, the Urian Best Picture in 2005.

Roeder garnered a Best Supporting Actor nomination that year, losing only by a few votes to Wendell Ramos.

For those who think that Roeder’s name strikes a familiar sound, he was the former pop singer whose single Sana Naman became a big hit in the early ’90s.

He was bitten by the theater bug and performed important roles in the local productions like Dracula, The King & I and Ang Larawan, the musical.

He also starred in the Singaporean production of Chang & Eng.

He is included in the restaging of Mario O’Hara’s award-winning Insiang currently ongoing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, with an ensemble of esteemed actors like Ricky Davao, Mae Paner, Paolo O’ Hara and Sheenly Vener.

Roeder doesn’t regret that he made the big switch from pop singing to acting. “Life presents itself with a lot of avenues for us to explore, many paths where we can find our happiness and fulfillment.”