Lav Diaz’s ‘Phantosmia’ to premiere in Venice film fest

Arjay Babon with Janine Gutierrez in Lav Diaz’s “Phantosmia.” —HAZEL ORENCIO

“This only proves that we’re part of the extensive discourse on cinema and aesthetics,” said multiawarded independent filmmaker Lav Diaz on the news that his latest film project, “Phantosmia,” is set to premiere at the Fuori Concorso Fiction (Out of Competition) category of the prestigious 81st Venice Film Festival in August.

For Lav, who won the coveted Golden Lion in Venice in 2016, there is no festival that’s too big or too small. “Wherever these festivals may be in the world and in the country, they are considered social events on works related to culture and humanity. Of course, it feels good that a Filipino film is included in a ceremony like this one,” the director told Inquirer Entertainment recently. The film stars Ronnie Lazaro, Janine Gutierrez, Hazel Orencio, Paul Jake Paule and Arjay Babon and is coproduced by Ten17P and sine olivia pilipinas.

It is the story of Hilarion Zabala, (Lazaro), whose mysterious olfactory problem has recurred. A counselor/psychiatrist suspects it to be a lingering case of phantosmia, a phantom smell, and is possibly caused by trauma or deep psychological fracture. One recommends a radical process to cure the ailment, that Hilarion goes back to deal with the darkest currents of his past life in the military service. Reassigned to the very remote Pulo Penal Colony, he must also confront the horrific realities of his present situation.

For Lazaro, playing lead in “Phantosmia” was totally unexpected. “After ‘When the Waves are Gone,’ where I played a really ‘wasak’ character with John Lloyd Cruz, I did not expect that I would be doing Lav’s next. With him, you don’t know what’s going to happen next,” he pointed out.

Asked what it was like to work with Diaz for this particular project, Gutierrez said: “It felt like a very intimate and personal process. Working with Direk Lav was great. He showed us the frame and would often say we can work freely within that space, guided by his direction, which I relied heavily upon.”

Gutierrez, who plays a young prostitute in the film, added: “We shot in a small town in Quezon that felt very mystical and like another character in the film. Behind-the-scenes was fun because the mood was light, despite whatever the subject might be on cam. It was so much fun but, at the same time, very fulfilling working with the ‘Lav Team’ because it felt like a family project.”

Ronnie Lazaro —HAZEL ORENCIO

‘Homecoming’

Orencio, who counts “Phantosmia” as her fourth film to have made it to Venice, said this particular exposure in the festival—considered one of the oldest and one of the Top 3 alongside the festivals in Cannes and Berlin—as very significant for the country.

“Having a film again in Venice feels like a sort of homecoming. If I’m given a travel grant, this will be my second time to attend the festival,” said Orencio, adding that the first one was for the Golden Lion winner “Ang Babaeng Humayo” in 2016. “When my films make it to festivals, I never see this as an exposure of sorts, as an artist or individual. I’m just part of the work in totality. Our film is the real ‘star.’ It is the film that represents our country.”

The festival runs from Aug. 30 to Sept. 9.

For Gutierrez, making it to Venice was a life’s dream. “I always work hard to hopefully, one day, make it there. I’m so happy that our ‘Phantosmia’ will be premiering in Venice. It has always been my goal to be part of Filipino projects that show our unique character and experiences to the world. I’m just so grateful and excited. This is a life’s dream for me and I’m so grateful to Direk Lav for making it possible,” she declared. Lazaro added: “I’m 66 years old and I’m doing a film with one of the most famous Filipino directors on the international film festival scene, especially in Europe. It is my honor to be part of a story that hopefully we can learn from, and make us a better nation. I am fulfilled.”

Lav Diaz —LAV DIAZ/FACEBOOK

‘Bravest directors’

“In this project, I had the incredible opportunity to witness Direk Lav’s deep immersion in the filmmaking process,” said Paule. “His dedication was evident as he meticulously guided me through my interpretation of each scene. Being directed by him allowed me to gain invaluable insights and enhance my performance significantly.”

Meanwhile, Babon considers Diaz as “one of the bravest directors inside and outside the Philippines. This is not only because of the content of his projects, but also because of his choice of form. He upholds this with all his heart and skill. More than an actor in this film, I’m a fan and a student. My experiences in this project taught me to wait, trust and stand firm. Lav can’t be bothered. The freedom he enjoys in making films, he also shares with other people.”

For Orencio, who has collaborated with Diaz for the last 13 years, working on “Phantosmia” was no different. “Small team, remote area, an organic filmmaking process. No negative vibes on the set. This project was almost scrapped. Thanks to Lav’s very determined spirit, nothing can hamper it.”