dispatch from dreamland

Spotlight from the Variety Magazine and Hollywood Reporter: 

"Typically arresting direction and a stoically moving lead turn from local industry legend Nora Aunor... (her) softly crinkled face beautifully registers the internal pain of her every decision…What ensues is part marital tearjerker, part cultural comedy of manners…Unusual story world with just the right balance of the exotic and the authentic." (Click the link for the full review.) 

“Alluring scenery and a sympathetic lead performance...Philippines entertainment legend Nora Aunor stars in a drama by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza…Her elfin features, so powerfully expressive of both happiness and sorrow, help make Shahela an engaging, unlikely heroine here.” (Click the link for the full review.)

thumbs up from tweeter

Cinephiles came, saw, and were conquered by what they saw at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. Here's one of the buzzes: "Brillante Mendoza's very moving THY WOMB from the Philippines...could win Best Actress for Aunor Nora."

the best for the British

CineVue, an award-winning film blog from the United Kingdom, attests to “Sinapupunan” (Thy Womb) as one of the best-reviewed films in competition at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. "One of the most poignant and intimate films in the competition," according to one critic. "A moving and visually captivating movie with two commanding yet understated central performances. Mendoza's film deserves an accolade at Venezia 69.” (Click the link for the full review.)

Fan Poster by EISEN BERNARDO

 “The best film to date from Filipino director Brillante Mendoza. As quietly agonising as a De Sica film…it is hard to bear emotionally in an unflinching film rich in human, social and natural detail.” Thus a renowned British film critic emphasizes why "Sinapupunan" (Thy Womb) should have won in the main competition of the 69th Venice International Film Festival on top of romping off with three prizes given by critics' group outside of the festival. (Click link for the full article.)

"The genius of Mendoza’s film is that no sooner has he drawn us into the couple's simple life on the beautiful island of Tawi-Tawi than he unsettles this paradise with cinematic eruptions...these moments quicken the pulse and keep us alive to the possibility of danger. They’re like espresso shots peppered throughout the leisurely humanist love story, adding adrenaline to the heartbreak."  (Click link for the fullarticle.)

an upbeat assessment from the Vatican

Only great actresses like Nora Aunor can pull off a role with natural interpretation. "Nora Aunor la interpreta con la naturalezza che solo le grandissime attrici possiedono..." Thus exclaimed a critic from the L'Osservatore Romano, a Vatican publication in its review of the latest Brillante Mendoza masterpiece that premiered in competition at the recent Venice International Film Festival. 

Should have won, argued another Vatican publication in favor of Mendoza's film deemed imbued with "real poetry" but was "surprisingly and unjustly...totally ignored by the official jury" of festival. Amen, we say.  Good thing that critics who covered Venezia 2012 vindicated Aunor and Brillante by giving them their respective awards. (Click the link for the original text in Italian.)

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.)

victorious from Venice

Nora Aunor displays her Bisato D'Oro award beside director Brillante Mendoza upon arriving
at the NAIA on Tuesday afternoon. (Eric B. Apolonio/InterAksyon.com)

Nora Aunor and Brillante Mendoza, star and director of the film “Sinapupunan” (“Thy Womb”), came home from a successful sojourn at the 69th Venice Film Festival on Tuesday afternoon to the cheers of fans and a commendation from Congress.

Aunor and Mendoza arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 4:35PM on board Qatar Airways flight QR646, along with co-stars Lovi Poe, Mercedes Cabral, scriptwriter Henry Burgos, and line producer Larry Castillo.

As expected, Aunor was welcomed by her adoring fans, who waited as early as 1PM at the terminal’s curb side arrival area for a glimpse of their triumphant idol.

The superstar was also mobbed at NAIA exactly a week ago when she and her party departed for the Venice festival, where “Thy Womb” was warmly received by critics and film buyers alike.

On Friday on the eve of the award ceremonies, Aunor was honored with the Bisato D’Oro Award (Golden Eel) from an independent jury of Italian critics for her acclaimed portrayal of a barren Badjao midwife in the film.

Mendoza won two collateral awards at the festival--the La Navicella Award, which was sponsored by a film journal, and a special mention for the P. Nazareno Taddei Award.

These awards awards led critics in Venice to consider “Thy Womb” a dark horse for the Golden Lion best picture prize and Aunor a frontrunner for the Volpi Cup best actress prize heading into the awarding ceremonies on Saturday night.

However, the festival jury gave the Golden Lion to the Korean morality tale “Pieta” and the Volpi Cup to Israeli actress Hadas Yaron for her her performance in the film “Fill the Void”.

Nevertheless, the accolades prompted the House of Representatives to pass a resolution on Monday congratulating and commending Aunor and Mendoza. “Thy Womb” is currently playing at the competition-free Toronto International Film Festival. (InterAksyon.com/ September 11, 2012)

a congressional commendation

A congressional resolution in honor of Ms. Nora Aunor and director Brillante Mendoza for making the nation proud with their international cinematic achievement.

Click this link to read this article: "Nora Aunor Dedicates Her Venice Award to the Filipino People."

the critics' choice, a triumphant tandem

In their first collaboration, the leading actress and director of  Thy Womb have proven themselves the pride of Philippine cinema with their world-class caliber:

NORA AUNOR
The first Filipino and the only actress in any nationality to win the Bisato d'Oro (Golden Eel) given by the Premio della Critica Indipendiente, an independent group of European critics covering the Venice International Film Festival. The group judges all the films in the entire Venezia official selection (not only the 18 films in competition but also the more than 50 other cinematic gems in the Orrizonte section and exhibition showcase). “Her class and intelligence as an actress lights up her performance with the necessary and important emotion. Nora Aunor shows that the work of an actress is to communicate ideas with intense expression and to make them credible…” reads the Bisato d’Oro citation.

BRILLANTE MENDOZA
Winner of La Navicella/Venezia Cinema prize from critics and the Rivisita del Cinematografo, an Italian publication. “La Navicella is awarded to the director of a film considered particularly relevant for the affirmation of human values.” The Navicella jury praised Thy Womb “for giving voice to the Bajau community in a respectful and emotionally involved manner… Ethnographic, the film goes beyond naturalism and turns into poetry. Mendoza brings to the screen an act of total love which stands out today as true scandal against frivolous provocation.” The best director at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival, Mendoza has joined an elite company of filmmakers who previously won the La Navicella: Stephen Frears, Abel Ferrara, Zhang Yimou, Louis Malle, and Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow. Mendoza also merited Special Mention for the P. Nazareno Taddei Award won by Kim Ki-duk whose Korean film “Pieta” won Venezia’s Golden Lion. 

her director's delight

“Isang tunay na artista! Napakahusay niya! Now I know how great she is as an actress. She's intelligent…Nagugulat ako kasi 'yung ibinibigay niya, sobra pa sa inaasahan ko! I learned from her; ako ang natuto sa kanya! It was  really a great privileged working with Nora. Napaka-down to earth. Marunong siyang makisama…from the cast, sa crew, everybody. Napakabait niya at lahat gustong-gusto siya! Ang laki-laki niyang artista pero hindi mo mararamdaman 'yun. Iba si Nora...kakaiba siyang tao at artista! Genuine!” 
-- BRILLANTE MENDOZA, as interviewed by showbiz scribe Ronald Rafer. 

a writer's conversion

 “Hindi po ako Noranian, pero during the shoot, at nang mapanood ko na ang buong film, na-convert po ako! Sobrang galing nya... her maturity and expertise are the fundamental elements needed by the film's character, Shaleha Sarail--the Bajau midwife, the barren woman.” 
-- HENRY BURGOS, scriptwriter

saluting the superstar

"Ihanap mo ako ng artista of her stature who would go through what she did during her shoot of Thy Womb…Bow ako! Working with The Superstar is a humbling experience. You forget that she has been in show business since the late sixties, that she has countless records and movies, a long-running TV show, legions of die-hard fans, tons of awards. On and off set, she's fairly patient and quiet. That's why when she asks for something, you listen and rarely refuse. And you realize why: it's the Queen speaking." 
-- ROLANDO T. INOCENCIO, actor/assistant director

breathing life to the role of a Bajau midwife

"In the remote island location, the production staff had identified several pregnant women who were due to give birth. There were false alarms. The right one came at midnight. The woman was already in labor for hours. At first there was talk of getting a double for Nora. But she insisted in doing it (the double didn't look like her at all). She was worried she was going to get squeamish. But no, she said, not even when the woman defecated. It was quick. And how would she describe what she saw, the newborn coming out into the world? 'Parang ulo ng manok,' she said. 'At saka parang lumolobo. Noong una maliit tapos biglang lumaki.' It was a boy."
-- WILFREDO PASCUAL, prize-winning essayist