From What is Before

Story

In 1972, Präsident Marcos proclaimed martial law in the Philippines and introduced a terrible 14-year period of military dictatorship. Years previously, the portents in Lav Diaz’ village drama already seem to point to this conclusion: cows are massacred, screams are heard coming from the forest and huts burn down. The spiritual order of the community seems to be out of control and the outsiders who come to the villages seem to make matters worse, not better. In brilliant black and white images, slowly and inexorably a catastrophe unfolds that will bring with it the end of an entire culture. This five-and-a-half hour downwards spiral earns the viewer’s attention with every passing minute and was awarded the Golden Leopard in Locarno.

Director

LAV DIAZ (*1958 on Mindanao, Philippines) is one of the most influential film-makers of today. Well-known for their long running times and unique style, his works have won prizes at festivals in Venice, Locarno and Berlin. FILMFEST HAMBURG has shown numerous of his films and in 2019 he was a guest in the section »Gegenwartskino im Fokus«.

Trailer