At long last, Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan has come home. Coconuts Manila attends the cast premiere’s after-party and eavesdrops on the conversations.
Is it just about a man trying to erase his past — family, society, civilizations of old? Does the film resonate more powerfully now that everyone’s revising history, insisting on their own versions of the past, the better to service an agenda? Is this Lav Diaz’s greatest work or is this his most audience-friendly?
None of these questions came up during the intimate post-screening fête for Norte: Ang Hangganan ng Kasaysayan, held at art mover Jeremy Guiab’s glamorous, gritty and gothic studio in Cubao.
Like all great after-parties that follow the showing of an art film, everyone talked about anything and everything but the reason for the evening’s gathering. People gabbed about the shaved potatoes on the pizza, the delicious pork barbecue and, excuse me, is there anything here other than Coke and beer?
Norte lead actress Angeli Bayani talked about her recent bout with an ice pick on the way home from CCP; her audience: writer/director Emman dela Cruz, new actor RK Bagatsing (Slumber Party) and Norte star Archie Alemania who brought his lovely date (its her first time to watch the four-hour film; it was Archie’s fourth).
A few days back, a man was tugging at Angeli’s bag in a jeepney, asking her to let go of it; when she finally came to her senses, the sharp object was already pointed at her neck. By some twist of fate, she got hold of the ice pick, guy fell off the vehicle, actress got to keep her bag — and her life.
She should show Archie some of her moves. The guy will be playing a revolutionary in an Antonio Luna biopic. Is he playing Antonio? “No.” Is he playing Juan? “No.” But he has almost the exact number of shooting days as the guy who plays Antonio (John Arcilla).
By the bar, Sid Lucero is either liking or not liking the gloomy electronica playing in the background. It’s hard to tell because, like in the film, he’s only letting out a guttural Aaaaaaagh! But instead of committing one atrocious deed after the other, he is just screaming now in between gulps of San Miguel beer.
A fan of the film, magazine editor Erwin Romulo came to show support wearing a black Esquire shirt, clutching several copies of his mag’s February 2014 issue (the one with John Lloyd’s back painted by Nona Garcia) on his left arm. Which should give you an idea what he was talking about with Lav Diaz, who was in his usual all-black shirt and jeans ensemble, long salt-and-pepper hair tied at the back.
Lav needed to leave his own party early; he had an early flight to Japan the next day. Norte is to be screened in an important museum in Tokyo. He’ll be joined by producer Moira Lang, who held court last night at the studio’s loft, seductively calling everyone with a beard “menacing” while talking to artist Poklong Anading, and the actress Maxine Eigenmann, who came with partner Norman Crisologo.
Maxine said she was blown away by her brother Sid’s performance, although it seems she could do with a shorter version of the film. So Moira brings up the actress’ amazing turn in last year’s Bingoleras (where she has a kissing scene with Eula Valdes), and someone else brings up her inspired acting in Erik Matti’s Rigodon. Someone, please, give this girl a project people will actually watch!
As Moira prepared to exit the studio, somebody brings up the subject of the weekend: What to do? “I’m watching Bart Guingona’s play Red at the CCP,” said Esquire’s Jerome Gomez. “Masyado ka nang cultured ha,” quips Queenmelo Esguerra.
“But you know what I read in YES! today?” Jerome asks. “Si Matteo na at si Sarah!”
Told you. Everything but!
