The latest Lav Diaz opus, Ang Panahon ng Halimaw (Season of the Devil), is finally showing in the Philippines.
Having made the rounds in different international film festivals, the black-and-white Filipino rock opera has already won best film in the Gems section of the 58th Festival Internacional de Cine Cartagena de Indias held in Colombia in March 2018.
The film, which stars Piolo Pascual, Shaina Magdayao, Pinky Amador, and Angel Aquino, was also selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the main competition section at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.
Hollywood trade paper, Variety, praises the film and the director for remaining “emphatically his own artist, whether to exhilarating or punishing effect,” saying the movie has some “raw, stirring interludes.”
Other film critics hail Diaz for his stirring masterpiece. “It’s visually that Season of the Devil ranks among Diaz’s best work,” writes Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian describes the director as a real auteur: “every millisecond of his film has been rigorously created.”
Desistfilm writer Aldo Padilla says, “Lav is probably the freest famous filmmaker today.” Jonathan Romney of Screen Daily calls it “A film of boldness and considerable beauty.”
After garnering such praise, it’s only fitting that the Filipino public be able to #PlayItRight and watch the movie in cinemas, supporting not just the movie, but the local film industry.
Globe Studios Head Quark Henares, shares, “It is important that we all support our local directors and movies because they create works that are truly world-class and deserving of a local and international audience. We have a rich and diverse group of local actors, artists, and filmmakers dedicated to creating stories and narratives that appeal to not just the soul of the modern Filipino, but to their sense of national pride.”
#PlayItRight is Globe Telecom’s continuing advocacy campaign in support of the entertainment industry by encouraging Filipinos to enjoy entertainment through legitimate means such as cinemas and legal streaming apps. The initiative encourages audiences to enjoy entertainment only through legitimate means, protecting the rights of the filmmakers, actors, and the crew who have dedicated their time and talent in making their movie projects.
Movie lovers can catch the special screenings of Ang Panahon ng Halimaw starting May 30 in select Ayala theaters in Manila and Cebu.