“Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery) is the longest entry ever to compete for the Golden Bear in the Berlin International Film Festival’s 66-year history. The eight-hour film won for Lav Diaz the Silver Alfred Bauer prize, an annual award given to a film that “opens new perspectives on cinematic art”.
The Filipino director said he did the film to remind the Filipinos of our culture and history. He shared how festival jury president, Hollywood star and living film legend Meryl Streep, told him that she really liked the film as it reminds her of the old way of doing things characterized by patience and commitment.
“Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” will open starting March 26, Black Saturday, in select cinemas nationwide. Diaz hopes the local audience will support his film despite its eight-hour running time.
