Lav Diaz-John Lloyd Cruz movie ‘Historya ni Ha’ to premiere in London

John Lloyd Cruz as Hernando, and his friend Ha. Photo by Hazel Orencio

Multi-awarded indie filmmaker Lav Diaz’ “Historya ni Ha” (History of Ha), starring John Lloyd Cruz, will have its world premiere at the prestigious 65th BFI London Film Festival in the United Kingdom.

The festival —which screens more than 300 films, documentaries, and shorts from about 50 countries — will run from Oct. 7 to 17.

Diaz’s latest masterpiece, which screens for four hours and 10 minutes, features John Lloyd, Mae Paner, Teroy Guzman, Dolly de Leon, Hazel Cruz, Earl Ignacio, Jonathan Francisco, “and the citizens of Sibaltan, Palawan,” he told Inquirer Entertainment.

Set in 1957, it’s about Hernando Alamada (Cruz), a Filipino vaudeville great and a former socialist cadre, who fulfills the last leg of his performing tour on the Mayflower cruise ship. He knows that the Philippines is experiencing a transition yet again; the much-loved and popular president Ramon Magsaysay suddenly dies in a plane crash. He arrives in his poverty-stricken barrio, his country’s state and future burdening him heavily, and at the same time, a deep personal turmoil confronts him.

“He plods an aimless journey. Akin to the Filipino ‘bodabil,’ he finds himself on the gate of the theater of the absurd, a descent to burlesque, madness, to stark realities, and, ultimately, an ascent to his own redemption,” according to Diaz. “This is the story of Hernando, a disillusioned Marxist, teacher and a great Bodabil artist, and his friend, the quintessential Ha.”

Scene from “Historya ni Ha.” Photo by Hazel Orencio

Incidentally, Diaz’s short film, “Himala: Isang Dayalektika ng Ating Panahon,” will also have its world premiere at the Laterale Film Festival in Conzeza, Italy. Laterale, a non-competitive festival of cinematic art organized by Associazione Culturale Laterale, will run from Sept. 13 to 15.

The short film will also head to Lisbon, Portugal to participate in the 2021 Doclisboa International Film Festival, which will be held from Oct. 21 to 31.