The End is the Beginning is the End: An Interview with Moira Lang (Raymond Lee)
As last year's most acclaimed Filipino film, Norte: The End of History has come home this month to sold-out screenings at the Ayala Mall cinemas. After it premiered last year at the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, it went on to top several yearender lists such as Sight and Sound, Artforum, Cinemascope, and Senses of Cinema, as well as a distribution deal from Cinema Guild.
Praised for its epic scope and intimate look at the lives caught in time’s undertow, Norte offers up a relevant response to how our country has gradually been victim to our crimes, even those that we commit to the ones we hold dear.
We recently sat down with the film's producer, Moira Lang (Raymond Lee), who is also behind acclaimed films such as Endo, Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, and The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros, and talked about the film's journey from Cannes to Manila.
Norte received wide acclaim at Cannes, with the festival finally embracing Lav. How did this help circulate the film after the festival?
Programmers and critics from all over the world saw it there. Those who liked it wrote about it, invited it to their film festivals, or told their friends to see it, who then wrote about it, invited it to their film festivals, and so on.
As a producer who worked closely with Lav, how was your working relationship was with a director who is known for fiercely adhering to his own genius?
It couldn't have been smoother or easier. Lav is the coolest person to work, create and jam with. He surely knows his craft and his art and at the same time he is open to collaboration, he is always listening, absorbing, taking everything in.
You've been behind films that have been enjoyed audiences abroad. How different was your experience with Norte?
Siguro mostly sa business side lang, especially in terms of dealing with distributors, mas alam ko na what to look for and what to look out for.
Norte is Lav's first film in color in years and directing a script from another writer. How did he handle this transition?
With aplomb! (laughs) Seriously, it didn't even feel like he was transitioning. As he likes to say, "Just have fun with it!" And he did. He had so much fun collaborating with his good friend Larry Manda, our cinematographer. He, Rody Vera, and I had a blast each time we picked one another's brains.
It took Norte almost a year to come home to the Philippines. What do you think that says about distribution here in the country, especially for films like Norte?
Para sa akin, okay 'yung delay. At least hindi inabot ng isang taon. You need more time marketing and releasing a film like Norte. Tama na 'yung naively assuming that just because it made waves and earned raves abroad tatangkilikin ang pelikula dito sa atin. Proven na hindi enough 'yun, eh. Nakakatulong, pwedeng makatulong nang malaki, oo. Pero kailangan ng pagpaplano, timing, tamang promo. May local audience ang Norte at mga pelikulang tulad nito, pero sa ngayon hindi pa uubra na basta na lang isalang mo ang ganitong mga pelikula—na hindi backed by giant TV networks o galing Hollywood—sa mga sinehan ng isang linggo ng buong-araw na screenings and just expect people to walk in. Importante pa rin talaga ang word of mouth. And that takes time to build.
Pero kaya rin nga sana, DAPAT, maglaan ang mall-chain cinemas ng mga sinehan na devoted lang sa pagpapalabas ng non-commercial/art/indie/alternative films. Kahit na konti lang ang manood. Bakit, konti na rin naman ang nanonood sa maraming Hollywood at local studio films, ah. Ang importante, may bahay, may address, alam kung saan hahanapin, pupuntahan, papanoorin. Hanggang sa lumakas nang lumakas, magkaroon ng solid, mature base of followers. There will be ups and downs, ganyan naman talaga ang kalakaran noon pa. May full house screenings, may mabibilang mo lang sa daliri ang audience. Ang importante, continuity, visibility, space, a variety of choices.
Nakakalungkot na ang tagal tagal tagal magising ng malls sa simpleng truth na ito. Sana may makabasa nito na may power na gumawa ng totoong pagbabago at makumbinsing tumugon nang positibo.
By the way, 2 out of 3 screenings ng Norte sa magkakaibang Ayala Malls this month were completely sold out. Yung ika-apat, at huli (for now), today (sa Glorietta 4), sold out na rin.
What was your most unforgettable moment while showing Norte abroad? Can you share an anecdote?
Bago matapos ang gala screening sa Cannes nagpaalam si Lav, magsi-CR lang daw. Maya-maya lumapit sa akin ang isa sa Cannes programmers, hinahanap si Lav. Importante raw na nandoon kaming lahat the moment the film ends. Gusto niyang maramdaman namin ang response ng audience. Sabi ko nag-CR lang si Lav. Kinabahan siya. Tumawag ng staff, pinahanap si Lav. Wala nga sa si CR ang direktor namin! Natapos ang pelikula, still no Lav. The lights went up and everybody stood to clap. Maraming basa ang mukha, umiiyak pero nakangiti lahat. Malakas ang palakpakan pero dumagundong nung bumalik si Lav sa loob ng sinehan. Nahanap siya sa filmmakers lounge sa rooftop, naghihintay lang doon na matapos ang lahat.
After the screenings at the Ayala Mall Cinemas, what's next for Norte?
We're accepting bookings for screenings by orgs, schools, companies, anyone na makakabuo ng grupong manonood ng Norte, kahit saan sa Pilipinas.
Norte: The End of History will be screened today at Glorietta Cinema 4, 6:30pm. For more information visit their Facebook page.
