A well-deserved ‘Golden Lion’ for the Philippines in Venice

The Philippines scored a great victory with the “Leone d’Oro” awarded to Director Lav Diaz for his “Babaeng Humayo” (The Woman Who Left) at the “Festival del Cinema di Venezia,” bringing to the attention of Italian and global film lovers this country’s  talents in the art of film-making.

The nearly 4-hour-long, intense artwork of  director Diaz, with the leading  role  masterfully interpreted by veteran actress and former ABS-CBN President Charo Santos Concio, captivated audience and critics with its powerful rendition of a human drama of misery, revenge and compassion.

This is indeed a beautiful, shining moment for Philippine cinema, which has a solid, illustrious tradition and – aside from the inevitable trend towards commercialization – has often achieved international high quality status. Several Filipino artists have gained prestigious recognitions, such as Brillante Mendoza’s (Berlin 2008 and Cannes 2009) or Jaclyn José (‘Palme d’Or’ at Cannes 2016). A few days ago Allen Dizon won Best Actor for “Iadya Mo Kami” (Deliver Us) at the Salento Film Festival, an emerging major Italian event promoting independent films.

Cinema remains a great bridge in linking the Philippines with Europe’s societies. At the recent “Cine Europa” festival in Manila promoted by the EU, the opening film was the Italian “Of Sinners and Saints,” a locally produced work of Filipino-Italian director/actor Ruben Soriquez, who himself is a bicultural meaningful symbolism.

The Venice Film Festival – one of the most prestigious worldwide – was the perfect stage for this deserved Filipino success.  The oldest in the world (1932) it is part of the famous “Biennale” of exhibitions and events, spanning in many fields (art, music, theatre, architecture, dance and more).

The Festival has often been a gateway to international fame. For example in 1954  it  presented “On the Waterfront” with Marlon Brando, which the following year won 8 Oscars;  In 1951 “Rashômon” by Akira Kurosawa was awarded, first Japanese movie ever shown in the West, opening  the way to a wave of Asian and Eastern European films;  in 1988 it launched Spanish master Pedro Almodóvar  with “ Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”; it featured Stanley Kubrick’s  posthumous “Eyes Wide Shut”(1999) with co-stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman dominating the red carpet at the charming Lido of Venice; in 2005 the Festival awarded “Brokeback Mountain” by Ang Lee. And many more.

Venice, as a most prestigious international stage, seems to bring good luck to the Philippines in asserting itself with growing strength and confidence. Last year the Philippines returned to the Biennale of Contemporary Art after half a century of absence, with a successful national pavillon hosted in historical Palazzo Mora.  Curated by Pearlie Rose S. Baluyut and inspired to the “Tie a String Around the World” concept by  UP  professor Patrick Flores, it revolved around Manuel Conde’s 1950 film “Genghis Khan,” and the works “A Dashed State” by filmmaker Manny Montelibano and “Shoal,” an installation by Jose Tence Ruiz.  This return was followed this year by the first  Filipino participation to the Venice Architectural Biennale, where a team led by curator Leandro V. Locsin Jr. brilliantly featured the country’s heritage with “Muhon: Traces of An Adolsecent City.” Both biennale participations were joint undertakings by NCCA, DFA, and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.

From this perspective, Diaz’s “Leone d’Oro” – which represents the magnificent Lion of San Marco, symbol of the city of Venice – can be seen as the actual completion of a well earned process of claim to international visibility and success. 

Well done!  As the representative of a country gifted by unique cultural and artistic heritage, I am happy to extend my warmest congratulations for this recognition to Philippine Cinema, as well as for the other successes that Philippine Culture is achieving on the international scene. Let us not forget that Culture empowers society; it gives pride, confidence, sense of belonging; it fosters solidarity; it ultimately fortifies a nation’s identity.. and it can also be a meaningful force in economic growth. It is our duty to foster it and promote it.

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(Massimo Roscigno is the Ambassador of Italy)