Diaz is no stranger to Venice.
In 2008, he won the Orizzonti Award for Melancholia. Later, in 2016, he captured the prestigious Golden Lion for Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left). Most recently, he made waves at the Cannes Film Festival with Magellan, starring Gael García Bernal.
A Big Return to Venice
The prolific and award-winning Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz has done it again. This September, he is heading back to the Lido. His latest project, Makikiraan Po (Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors), will premiere out-of-competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
Now, he returns to Venice with a new feature.
Produced by C’est Lovi Productions, Epicmedia Productions, and Sine Olivia Pilipinas, it is notably his shortest film in 24 years. In fact, it clocks in at just two hours and 27 minutes. The story features an ensemble cast, including Isabel Sandoval, Yul Servo, Christian Bables, Bart Guingona, Ronnie Lazaro, and Bong Cabrera. Furthermore, it is set during Spanish colonial rule.
Specifically, the film shows how 17th-century churches built through forced labor remain lasting reminders of violence, plunder, and colonial suffering.
Unpacking the Story and Struggles
Recently, in an exclusive GMA email interview, Diaz opened up about the heart of the project. He also discussed the hurdles his team faced during production. For instance, when asked about his main inspiration for Makikiraan Po, he shared:
The Filipino struggle. The film examines and confronts another epoch of our complex history — the late 16th century and early 17th century — the period of mass conversions of the indigenous inhabitants of the archipelago and the brutal imposed constructions of roads, bridges, churches, forts, ports, mansions, plantations, factories, and mining. Thousands died because of forced labor.”
Naturally, bringing this historical narrative to life came with major challenges. First, the crew had to manage actor schedules and wait on budget approvals. Next, they endured scorching heat on location. In addition, the production design and costume teams worked tirelessly.
Consequently, they ensured no modern or bourgeois details appeared on camera.
You Dont Stop, It’s Cinema
Furthermore, when asked what he looks forward to regarding his return to the festival, Diaz viewed the event as a key milestone for the film itself. As he explained:
The film, “Makikiraan Po,” shall be there; it shall be a commencement of its own life now, a birthing, a liberation.”
To him, returning to the Lido is far more than a simple red-carpet showcase. Instead, it is a deeply personal and artistic voyage.
Ultimately, he described the experience beautifully:
Going back to the Lido provides me with that vision of an island of dreams. It’s always a journey back, and a journey to the unknown again.
You don’t stop. It’s a pilgrimage.
You go, struggle, and be grateful for the wisdom gained.
It’s cinema.”
In conclusion, Makikiraan Po stands as another powerful testament to Lav Diaz’s dedication to historical truth and artistic expression.
As the film makes its grand debut at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, it marks both a fresh milestone for Filipino cinema and the beginning of a profound new journey for its story.
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