- Philippines
THE WOMAN WHO LEFT
Synopsis
The Philippines, 1997: Horacia Somorostro (Charo Santos-Concio), once a primary school teacher, is released from a women’s prison after thirty years – a fellow inmate has confessed to the crime for which Horacia was convicted. Outside, she finds her daughter again, learns that her husband has died and her son has disappeared, and comes to understand who put her in prison: Rodrigo Trinidad (Michael de Mesa), her former lover, a wealthy man who has since barricaded himself in his house for fear of the wave of kidnappings targeting the rich. Horacia begins to plan her revenge. “The Woman Who Left” (“Ang Babaeng Humayo”, 2016) by the Filipino Lav Diaz is inspired by a story by Leo Tolstoy.
Lav Diaz of the Philippines tells this in black and white and across 228 minutes – a revenge story that takes its time for nights on the street, for vendors, the lost, and the figure of Hollanda (John Lloyd Cruz), whom Horacia encounters. In Venice the film won the Golden Lion in 2016. It was shown at Around the World in 14 Films in Berlin in 2016.
Festival
Shown at the 2016 edition of Around the World in 14 Films.
