Acclaimed Filipino independent filmmaker Lav Diaz scored another “best” to add to the roster of international awards he has been collecting since he dropped the pen for a movie camera.
His new film titled Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left) won the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Film at the 73rd Venice Film Festival last Saturday. The Golden Lion is the highest honor given among participants in the international film festival in Venice, Italy.
“This is for my country, for the Filipino people, for our struggle and the struggle of humanity,” said Diaz in his acceptance speech.
Produced by ABS-CBN’s Cinema One Originals and Diaz’ Sine Olivia, Ang Babaeng Humayo tells the story of Horacia (Charo Santos), a woman seeking revenge after being convicted for a crime she didn’t commit.
This is the first time the Philippines won at Venice Film Festival, considered one of most prestigious in the world alongside Cannes Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival.
Variety film critic Guy Lodge, in a review, writes, “The latest supersized opus from Filipino maximalist Lav Diaz is a powerful and, by his standards, refreshingly contained moral study.”
Ang Babaeng Humayo also marks the movie comeback of former ABS-CBN president and now chief content officer Charo Santos. Her performance also earned positive reviews from critics in the nearly four-hour long film.
In an article by Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter, Santos was praised for her “majestic” and “sturdy” performance. Variety’s Lodge, meanwhile, tweeted “Woman Who Left star Charo Santos is the real Oscar frontrunner.”
The movie also stars award-winning actor John Lloyd Cruz in another must-see and daring performance.
Diaz, Santos, and Cruz with Cinema One Head Ronald Arguelles represented the Philippines at Venice Film Festival and attended various functions such as press conference, red carpet premiere, and the awards gala.
Also in the cast are Michael de Mesa, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Nonie Buencamino, Marj Lorico, Mayen Estanero, Romelyn Sale, Lao Rodriguez, Jean Judith Javier, Mae Paner, and Kakai Bautista.