FROM WHAT IS BEFORE (MULA SA KUNG ANO ANG NOON) World Cinema

The latest film from Filipino arthouse sensation Lav Diaz is a culmination of the lauded filmmaker’s career. Drawing on personal experience, the film tells the story of the years leading up to the brutal rule of Ferdinand Marcos’ forces in the 1970s. Its lush coastal setting is the backdrop for a small village where martial law rules amid strange and sometimes supernatural occurrences. Rural beliefs coexist with Christianity, but neither can help explain the eerie threat that comes to stay in the town. The prolonged runtime (five and a half hours) coupled with the natural setting create an immersive cinematic space and a truly epic experience for Diaz’s more ardent fans and newcomers alike.