‘Ruined Heart’ wins in Austin

Nathalia Acevedo and Tadanobu Asano in “Ruined Heart”

Khavn’s “Ruined Heart: Another Love Story Between a Criminal and a Whore” won the Jury Award for best narrative feature at the 8th Austin Asian-American Film Festival, held in Texas, from Nov. 12 to 15.

In its statement, the jury said: “This film chose us! This film dispossessed us of all our previous loves in cinema, abducting us into its delirium in which we can barely keep up with depths of color and movements of speed. This film has ruined us for the better, carving a time for pure cinema in the alleyways of digital. Heady and still reeling, we chose [this film].”

The fest’s website compared the Filipino film to “a long-ago late night out with a wild friend.”

The fest’s website explained that the film “situates itself squarely between dream and reality. There is no dialogue… and the plot doesn’t get more complex than the title… but the hypnotic imagery and lush soundtrack will leave you dizzy with awe.”

The site also cited its international cast (led by Japan’s Tadanobu Asano) and crew (led by cinematographer Christopher Doyle and director Khavn).

“Relentlessly experimental and impressively prolific, Khavn’s work is sometimes uncomfortable, frequently graphic and always unabashedly unconventional,” the website remarked. Bayani San Diego Jr.