A TIFF Programmer Talks INDEPENDENCIA

A TIFF Programmer Talks INDEPENDENCIA
Posted by Todd Brown at 7:59pm.
Posted in Film News , Drama, South Asia, Toronto Film Festival 2009.


[The Toronto International Film Festival’s south-east Asia programmer Raymond Phathanavirangoon has been giving us a guided tour of his selections for the big festival and today he checks in with some thoughts on Independencia.]

Hi all, after my brief explanation on the director’s cut of NYMPH, the next one I’d like to introduce is Raya Martin’s INDEPENDENCIA, a critical darling when it screened in Cannes earlier this year. Apart from being selected for TIFF, the film has also recently been invited to the New York Film Festival. It’s a title that will surely be popular among festivals and cineastes.

Fans of Guy Maddin will find lots to like here, from the clever use of early silent film techniques and hand-painted backdrops to the gorgeous black-and-white cinematography and lush score. But this ain’t MY WINNIPEG (or MY MANILA); the genius of this film comes from the rich evocation of Filipino traditional folklore and melodrama, using visual tricks as well as a hilarious American propaganda piece to make its point. It’s also a rare glimpse of the colony back in the late 19th/early 20th century. See, at the time the Philippines declared independence from the Spanish, but only to be sold under the table to the Americans. INDEPENDENCIA takes place during the eve of the American invasion and follows a mother and son as they set out to escape the occupation to live in the jungles.

Definitely it’s one of the most unique films in the festivals. And director Raya Martin will be attending, so please do come by and say hi!