thy womb: the heart and soul of a masterpiece

9/14/12

the heart and soul of a masterpiece

Why the Bisato d'Oro (Golden Eel) prize for Ms. Nora Aunor's performance--given by an independent group of European film critics covering the Venice International Film Festival-- is just as prestigious as the Volpi Cup: Not only is she the first Filipino recipient, she’s also the only female actress of any nationality so far to have received the award.

Moreover, the Bisato d'Oro critics have also factored in all 77 new films shown in Venice--18 films from the Venezia competition section, 33 films from the Orrizonte section (new trends in world cinema), and 25 films sa Out of Competition section (showcasing important works by directors already established in previous editions of the Venice festival) and the opening film The Reluctant Fundamentalist. As good as romping off with the Best Performer award, she bested both the Volpi Cup best actors—Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix for The Master--as well as best actress winner Hadas Yaron for Fill the Void.

Bravissima, La Aunor, the critics' choice as Best Actress "for her class and wisdom that illuminates a film necessary, important and exciting..." (Click the link for the original text in Italian.)

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A STORY AS DEEP AS THE SEA

“I am making a film about the Bajaus, with the aim to celebrate a nonviolent people amidst a very violent world. It’s an intriguing premise about a particular people of peace living in a place of endemic violence.

One of the most interesting peoples in southern Philippines, the Bajaus are native sea-dwellers that are also found in the neigh-boring Malaysian and Indonesian archipelagos. They are the so-called sea gypsies who are skilled in building various types of boats, and widely known as fishermen, pearl divers and mat weavers.

As a film, Thy Womb examines the opposing natures of two women (Nora Aunor/Shaleha’s sterility against Lovi Poe/ Mersila’s fertility) to reflect the prevailing condition in Tawi-Tawi, a place endowed with natural beauty and rich resources but mired in economic and socio-political crises. A quiet hell of a paradise, Thy Womb’s “birth place” and its environs are constant reminders of yesterday’s conflict that has remained unresolved up to the present.

The Bajaus are considered to be the most primitive and oppressed among several ethnic groups in the region; and they assume a subordinate status in their diverse and divided community, which includes the Samal and the Tausug, among others. But in spite of this, the Bajaus are generally perceived to be non-confrontational, forgiving, seemingly contented and happy people.

When wronged, it is said that the Bajaus would simply move to another place, bringing their houseboats (lepa-lepa), constantly roving, living in harmony with nature. To this day, they are mostly looked down, degraded and much maligned by their ethnic neighbors and others, thus rendering them harmless, helpless and almost powerless.

But in their heart of hearts, are they really so, or is it just another way of life merely misunderstood by those inured to violence? With this thought and theme, and my curiosity further piqued, the narrative voice of the film has emerged loud and clear.

With intensive research and truthful depiction of certain characters and their circumstances, as articulated in the poignant tale of an aging, childless couple who resolve to find the mother of their much-wanted child, I hope Thy Womb would show a slice of life in the best possible light."

– BRILLANTE MENDOZA