EDITORS DESK
The Academy Awards, commonly called the Oscars, have once again entertained us with a spectacular show. Last Sunday, the 97th Oscar Awards was broadcast globally from Los Angeles. We celebrated the achievements of our favorite stars and shared our opinions about some of the winners, presenters, and performers. The annual event showcased exciting fashion, touching speeches, and memorable performances. It reminded us of the special magic that cinema adds to our lives. From the excitement of the announcements to the emotional reactions of the audience, it is clear that film is a lasting art form. It continues to influence our experiences and culture.
One of the memorable winners this year was Sean Baker, who won the Best Director award for his outstanding film "Anora." His work impressed both audiences and critics.
At an exciting event for the cast and crew, "Anora" won Best Picture. The film's creative vision and Sean's directing skills raised the standard in cinema this year, making it a standout moment of the ceremony. Sean made history by winning four major awards. In addition to Best Picture and Best Director, he also won Best Screenplay and Best Editing.
While researching Sean online, I discovered that the indie director has a special appreciation for Filipino cinema. His interest in Filipino movies shows that he enjoys diverse stories and cultural experiences.
During an interview for GMA Network in 2024, Sean revealed he has seen the restored versions of Filipino classics such as "Insiang," "Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag," "Cain at Abel," and "Bona."
Sean even praised Nora Aunor's film, Bona, for its powerful story and strong acting. He was deeply moved by the film's emotional impact, which highlighted Nora's talent as an actress and the film's overall effectiveness.
"Bona" is a 1980 film about a young girl (Nora) who is infatuated with a bit player (Philip Salvador). One of the official entries to the 1980 Metro Manila Film Festival, the restored version of "Bona" was screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Sean was one of those who saw the film in France. "Yeah, this is my first time seeing this Lino Brocka film and I was blown away. I'm so happy that this is the first time I'm seeing it because this restoration is glowing. It's incredible. It's like one of these ideal situations in which I've been told that they thought that the negative might be lost, but no, the negative was safe and sound in Paris in a lab.
The American director added: "Obviously, it was placed there by Pierre Rissient, and thank God he did that because now we have this classic that has been preserved and the restoration has now made it something that people can enjoy for generations. And it's a powerful film. It's a very powerful film. The lead, Nora, is incredible in it. So, I'm really happy that it'll be getting a new life and because it really deserves an audience."
Sean expressed his admiration for director Lino, praising the remarkable vision and creativity he brought to the film.
"I've seen Insiang, excuse my pronunciation. And I've seen Manila in the Claws of Light (Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag), and Cain at Abel. So, I've seen those four because of the new restorations, but of course, I've always known about him being the most renowned Filipino director, and the first to play Cannes in competition. So, I'm really glad that I'm gonna be able to continue to explore his work. I have 62 films to watch. But why I'm drawn to him is because we both work in social realism and tackling the subject matter with this craft is right up my alley," Sean said in the GMA interview in 2024.
It’s great to see someone with his creative vision take the time to appreciate the unique talent in our films. The fact that he immerses himself in our cinematic landscape speaks volumes. Thank you so much, director Sean Baker, for appreciating Filipino films!
(Robert R. Requintina is the Entertainment Editor of Manila Bulletin)