Lav Diaz’s Norte is Philippines’ Entry to Oscars
Lav Diaz‘s film Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan, which was praised by critics in the Philippines and around the world, has officially been selected as the country’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film to the 87th Academy Awards or Oscars.
The news was confirmed on Norte‘s official Twitter page. The news was also confirmed by actress Angeli Bayani on Facebook.
Sid Lucero plays Fabian, an intellectual frustrated with his country’s never-ending cycle of betrayal and apathy
Norte is a four-hour drama that peeks into the lives of three people after a crime has been committed. Archie Alemania plays Joaquin, a man falsely accused of his money lender’s murder. He is arrested and solitude transforms him into a different man. Angeli Bayani plays his wife Eliza, who deals with despair as she struggles to support her family without him. And Sid Lucero plays Fabian, the real murderer, who roams free and becomes disillusioned with his country, which affects his sanity.
Lav Diaz’s film was first screened at the Un Certain Regard section at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), New York Film Festival, and the San Diego Asian Film Festival. The Un Certain Regard is a category for international films with unique types of visions and styles.
Since its screening, Norte has been nominated for multiple awards at Cannes (Prix Un Certain Regard), Cinemanila International Film Festival (Best Film and Best Director Award), Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival (Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Award), International Cinephile Society Awards (Best Picture not released in 2013), and the Gawad Urian Awards (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Editing, and Best Sound). It won seven of the nominations.
Lav Diaz, Hazel Orencio, Angeli Bayani, MoiraLee, and Archie Alemania at Cannes Film Festival
The film has also joined worldwide polls of 2013’s best films, ranking 9th in the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound, 6th in the La Internacional Cinefila, and 1st, 7th, and 9th by Artforum‘s three of the five critics polled. James Quandt, senior programmer at TIFF picked Norte as the best film of 2013.
The official nominees for the Oscar’s Best Foreign Language Film will be announced January next year, and the awarding will be held on February 22.
Watch the full trailer of Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan below:
What do you think of this story? Will you catch the movie when it screens here? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Lav Diaz’s Norte is Philippines’ Entry to Oscars
