Movie No. 70 (2016): ANG BABAENG HUMAYO

Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left) (2016)
Director: Lav Diaz
Cast: Charo Santos, John Lloyd Cruz, Noni Buencamino, Michael De Mesa, Shamaine Buencamino
In Tagalog, with English subtitles

The film won the 2016 Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Award last month.

I will not write about the cinematic and editing styles Lav Diaz used in the film. These are the same style he used in his other masterpieces. I have adapted to these styles. I have adapted to his cinema. I like every minute I'm immersed into his cinema. It's the same experience watching Ang Babaeng Humayo. Most, if not all, scenes are mesmerizing.

Like his other movies that I've seen (Norte, Hele, and Serafin Geronimo), Ang Babaeng Humayo is based partly from classic literature; this time Tolstoy's God Sees The Truth, But Waits. The movie begins with Horacia being set free from prison after 30 years of confinement. Her best friend in prison confesses having committed the crime that was used to frame Horacia 30 years ago. Horacia's ex-flame (Rodrigo) masterminded the frame up out of jealousy. Horacia, now outside the prison, plots for revenge patiently. She assumes two identities: dressed as tomboy at night while stalking Rodrigo, maintaining a local diner and frequenting the church at daytime. In this quest, she meets unlikely but interesting 'creatures.' Of these, the most interesting is an epileptic homosexual tranvestite, Hollanda (John Lloyd Cruz). Hollanda seems like a lost soul with whom Horacia easily forms bond after some (cinematically well-developed) circumstances. The revenge is materialized, with some (justified) twist, leaving Horacia "empty but relieved." The ending, however, is uncertain.

While Charo Santos delivers a strong performance, the supporting cast also perform explosively. John Lloyd Cruz is most notable. With the Hollanda character, he just proves that he's one of the best actors that ever graced the Philippine Cinema. A lot of TV and movie celebrities now are mostly just TV and/or movie stars. Only a few of them are real actors or artists. John Lloyd Cruz is both a star and actor/artist. John Lloyd Cruz stands out in three scenes, in my opinion: (1) the dance in the dark, (2) the Sunrise, Sunset scenes, and (3) the interrogation scene. In the other scenes he's just being Hollanda. Noni Buencamino is unrecognizable as balut vendor befriended by Horacia. he is unrecognizable not because he has prosthetic on but because he's simply in character. Michael De Mesa's brief scene is unforgettable.

The movie is not perfect. In fact, I'm wandering how Horacia learns about being a thug. In one scene she's shown beating hard a bully like a real thug. In some scenes with voice-over, Horacia narrates like Charo Santos in Maalala Mo Kaya. But these are easily eclipsed by the good things about the movie.

Rating: 4.0/4.0

Date seen: October 2, 2016