Filipino Film “Norte” Named One of the World’s Best (CANNES FILM FESTIVAL)

[pickslide09]

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The Filipino film Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan has figured prominently in worldwide polls listing the Best Films of 2013.
Directed by independent filmmaker Lav Diaz, Norte was cited as one of 2013’s top ten films by the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound (ranked 9^th), La InternacionalCinefila (ranked 6^th),and Artforum (ranked 1^st, 7^th, and 9^th by three of the five critics polled by the magazine).
James Quandt, senior programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival, picked Norte as the best film of the year. In a nod to the recent steady outpouring of cinematic gems from the country, the Artforum contributor noted that “Lav Diaz’s Dostoyevskian mini-epic… may prove the greatest work of the Philippine New Wave.”

A loose adaptation of “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the filmpremiered to a standing ovation and rave reviewsin Cannes where it became one of the festival’s highest-rated films, second only to the Palm d’Or winner “Blue is the Warmest Color.”Norte hassince been picked up for distribution in France, the US, and the UK.This means it will enjoy a theatrical release in those countries later this year.

Here in its home country, the film initially encountered some difficulty in getting a playdate. A factor that figured in discussions with cinemas is the film’s running time of four hours.

But the length of the film has been more of a plus than a negative to those who have seen it. Time Out New York’s David Fear describes it as “a movie that approaches (a) marathon-length running time yet still makes you wish it were twice as long.”

Wesley Morris, a Pulitzer prize-winning critic, considers the film “an honest-to-goodness masterpiece.” He recalls his encounter with Norte in Cannes: “The lights went down, the movie came up, and I sat there. Two-hundred-fifty minutes later… I stood with tears in my eyes, and clapped as loudly as I ever have for any movie in my life.”


For the first time, Moviegoers in Cebu can soon watch Norte, HanggananngKasaysayan (Norte, The End of History).

There will be a Special screening this coming March 18 at Ayala Center Cebu, screening begins at 6:30 PM. The film will be shown with English subtitles.

To buy tickets in advance please contact Tony Alfonso at 09228376749

Norte stars Sid Lucero, AngeliBayani, and Archie Alemania.

[FAQ]

For sure, PINOY PRIDE plipaks will become INDIE FILM fans once this film gets the mainstream hype.

[euan]

proud to be pinoy. lololol

[Ekoydakoykoy]

nganu dli man pd ni weekends? sayanga oi

[GslashG]

Does anyone know where I can get a copy of this, DVD or Download online?

I missed the screening and it's been on the back of my head for awhile now. It's been bugging me for awhile. =)

Appreciate a little help guys. Thanks

[BertR]

Does anyone know where I can get a copy of this, DVD or Download online?

I missed the screening and it's been on the back of my head for awhile now. It's been bugging me for awhile. =)

Appreciate a little help guys. Thanks

Tough luck. At this time, it's impossible to find a copy of this online or a DVD because it's just rounding the country for the film's premiere. Your only chance of watching this right now is if you can book a flight to Manila for a March 25 screening at Greenbelt or March 31 screening at Glorrieta. lol.

I do recommend that you seek out this film in any way possible. In the meantime, you can watch his previous works (Batang West Side, Florentina Hubaldo CTE, Ebolusyon, Melancholia, Siglo, etc). I've seen it 2 days ago and I'm still thinking about it. It may not be his best (I have some issues with the screenplay, sound, and I liked the 2nd half better than the 1st. I wished there were more abstract elements) but it is still a terrific film. It is wonderfully shot especially that this is his first feature in colored in a very long time. I have vivid memory of some of the shots, the dream sequences are also the ones that I keep going back to. I know I'll continue to ponder on it for days, or weeks, or more.

[GslashG]

Oh boy!

So I'm gonna regret missing it for the rest of my life? =( Daaaammnn
There's got to be a way. Patience will do for now. I'll just have to wait, I guess.

Thanks though, I was kinda expecting it. =)