2013 People of the Year awardee, Brillante’s pursuit of change

It was in 2008 when we first met Brillante Mendoza, then known as Dante Mendoza. We happened to be in Europe at the time, and were asked to cover his entry Serbis at the Cannes Film Festival. Our first experience in Cannes was way back in 1980, when we joined Baby K. Jimenez, actors Nora Aunor and Phillip Salvador, and director Lino Brocka whose entry at the Director’s Fortnight was Bona, a film about a fan’s obsession.   

After Serbis came Kinatay in 2009, direk Brillante’s entry for which he won the Best Director at Cannes, the first Filipino to have been honored by that achievement. He defeated much revered and more experienced directors like Ang Lee who recently visited the country, and Quentin Tarantino, who was the first to congratulate him in Cannes.

Born and raised in Pampanga, Brillante went to UST for Advertising Arts and started a career working for name directors like Peque Gallaga, Chito Roño and Celso Ad. Castillo as a production designer. This late-bloomer has directed around 16 films, the early ones based on stories in his hometown in Pampanga. 

Kaleldo is Kapampangan for summer. This is a story of Johnny Delgado and his three daughters played by Juliana Palermo, Angel Aquino and Cherry Pie Picache as the lesbian child whom he hates but who serves him best. Cherry Pie won Best Actress in Durban, South Africa. Foster Child, again with Cherry Pie in the lead, tells of a poor woman hired to be foster mother for babies awaiting adoption. Heart-tugging performance from Cherry Pie.

Lola, shot by Brillante (after winning in Cannes) for 10 days during the rains and floods of Malabon, tells of two grandmothers — Anita Linda whose grandson had been killed, and Rustica Carpio whose grandson is the suspect in the killing. Through these adversities, they forget personal feelings and life continues in the arms of their families.

Tirador follows the lives of four petty criminals swarming along Manila’s underbelly, who are portrayed as nothing compared to the corrupt and hypocritical politicians who make false promises, exploit the poor and call on God for help.

Venturing outside his comfort zone, Brillante stumbled on distinguished French star Isabelle Huppert who not only agreed to star in Captive, but attracted some very welcome funding. It is a French-Filipino-German-British co-production. Based on the Abu Sayyaf abductions in Mindanao, the film draws from the book of Protestant missionary Gracia Burnham, In the Presence of My Enemies.  This film has been called a “brilliant recreation” of the 377 days suffered at the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

Next project was the simple but touching Thy Womb (Sinapupunan) with Nora Aunor, shot on location in Tawi-Tawi, which tells of a wife who will give up anything, including her own happiness, to give her husband what he wants.

Through all these adventures, Brillante never changed his outlook on life and his responsibilities. Last week, he was again honored by being knighted with the title of Chevalier dans l’Ordre Del Arts et Lettres by the French Government at the residence of French Ambassador to the Philippines Gilles Garachon and his wife Isabelle. He was recognized for his “invaluable contribution to the field of arts.”

The director is the first Filipino in the film industry to receive the prestigious award, joining the ranks of Tim Burton, George Clooney, Jude Law, Anggun and William S. Burroughs.   

In conferring Brillante with his title, Amb. Gilles spoke of the long relationship the Philippines has had with France mentioning Brocka and Huppert among those in the field of film. He also expressed his belief that Brillante would be “the best ambassador of Philippine Cinema to the World.” Also in attendance was F. Sionil Jose who had been knighted many years before Brillante, and Wilson Tieng, president of Solar Entertainment and chairman of RPN9.

Has fame changed him, we wondered? In accepting his award, Brillante mused that when one is recognized “it becomes a responsibility to carry on and pursue the expectations attached to the recognition. As a filmmaker from a third world country, my works were merely aimed to mirror social realities and make the audience reflect on them. Hopefully, to create change.”

Director Brillante Mendoza is a 2013 People of the Year awardee. 

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