From What is Before

1970, in the Philippines. A boy stumbles towards the camera. “This story comes from memory ...” Not only is the narrative voice unusual for Lav Diaz, with From What Is Before he opens another chapter in his exploration of Philippine history. Until then, his films had been about the Marcos dictatorship and its consequences; here he delves into the era before: Where are the roots? With a calm, precise gaze and novelistic breadth, he creates a multi-layered portrait of a village community in a state of (relative) innocence and solidarity. When eerie occurrences begin to pile up, supernatural explanations are initially sought - but the real monsters wear uniforms. Marcos' declaration of martial law in 1972 is imminent. One of Diaz's richest, but also most bitter masterpieces, which earned him the main prize at one of the major festivals (in Locarno) for the first time. (Christoph Huber)

In the presence of Lav Diaz

15-minute break after 180 minutes

Photo: Austrian Film Museum