LOS ANGELES – “Busong (Fate),” part of a trilogy that filmmaker Auraeus Solito is planning on Palawan, is off to a spectacular start. The newest film of the director of “Ang Pagdadalaga ni (The Blossoming of) Maximo Oliveros” has been selected for the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival next month.
AURAEUS SOLITO. Photo by Andrew Tadalan
“My hands went cold,” Solito said via email, referring to the moment when he learned that “Busong” was included in the sidebar of what is considered the world’s most prestigious film festival.
“It was such a big surprise. I was expecting the decision to come two weeks later. We submitted the film on a Monday and got the news by Thursday! I ran to my mom (Leonarda Calo Solito) and told her the good news. She was so happy and thanked God. It was one of the happiest moments of my life!”
It’s a dream come true for the director whose other films include “Philippine Science” (originally “Pisay”),“Boy” and “Tuli” (Filipino for circumcise).
Solito remarked: “In my youth, when Lino Brocka became the first Filipino who made it to Cannes through the Directors’ Fortnight with his film ‘Insiang,’ it crossed my mind then – can I also do this someday? Now, my secret dream has been realized. Cannes is every filmmaker’s dream.”
Aside from the late Brocka, Directors’ Fortnight also featured over the years the work of Brillante “Dante” Mendoza,” Raya Martin, Mario O’Hara and Mike de Leon. The section also held the first French screenings of the debut works of such filmmakers as Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Werner Herzog and Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
“Busong” was inspired by stories that Solito’s mother told him about her native Palawan when he was a child. In an earlier interview, he explained that “Busong” is the indigenous Palawanon concept of fate or instant karma. “What you do to nature, you do to yourself,” he said. “Busong” is set in present Palawan while the other two planned films will tackle the picturesque province’s past, “Delubyo (Deluge),” and future, “Sumbang (Origin).” “Busong” itself is composed of three segments: “Forest,” “Sea” and “Mountain.”
The grateful son shared that Leonarda prayed hard for “Busong” to make it into Cannes. “She said a novena at the St. Jude Chapel that afternoon, praying for my film,” Solito said. “By evening, we were in. There are still miracles in our modern times.”
- CANNES-BOUND Auraeus Solito, on top of a jeep with cinematographer Louie Quirino, directs a scene in “Busong” with Clifford Bañagale, Rodrigo Santikan and Alessandra de Rossi. KARLA PAMBID
“We had a mini celebration,” said the filmmaker who first made a splash internationally in 2006 when “…Maximo Oliveros” was nominated for the grand jury prize in the Sundance Film Festival.
“We invited some key people and close friends. My mother was telling everyone, ‘I told him those stories from Palawan since he was a kid!’ She was so proud. What was fascinating was, she only realized in the end that the character Punay was played by Alessandra de Rossi! She told me that she was waiting for Alex (de Rossi’s nickname) to appear in the film. It proves that Alex really became the character!”
Solito rattled off the names of the cast and crew that he hopes will be able to join him when “Busong” premieres on the Croisette: “From the cast, Alessandra de Rossi, Clifford Bañagale, Dax Alejandro and Palaweña newcomer Bonivie Budao. Also actor Alfred Vargas, who is a co-producer of this film through his new film company, Alternative Vision Cinema; our co-producers from Voyage Studios, editor Chuck Gutierrez and his wife Baby Ruth Villarama; my Solito Arts Productions partner and the film’s production designer Endi ‘Hai’ Balbuena; a group from the US headed by executive producer Jong de Castro and co-producer Bambi Lorica; and co-writer Henry Burgos.”
Solito added, “I wish I could bring my Mom, but she doesn’t have a passport yet, and I can’t afford the fare.”
Cannes programmer Jeremy Segay told Solito that he “will be happy for a few days, but you will realize that it’s hard work the next few weeks.” The director concurred, saying “The euphoria lasted for a few days. Now, we are hard at work doing some finishing touches (what we submitted was a rough cut), looking for additional financing for the technical needs to meet Cannes standards (Digital Cinema Package and French subtitling) and airfare for cast and crew so they could travel with us to Cannes.”
Director Auraeus Solito (middle) on the Palawan set of "Busong" with Rodrigo Santikan (left) and Dax Alejandro. VIORY SCHELLEKENS
Solito claimed that there was no mad rush to meet the submission deadline. “I have a brilliant editor, Chuck,” he said. “I was expecting that we would go 24/7 but his cut points were just so precise and wowed me. Chuck chose some cuts that I didn’t even think of and they were better than what I was thinking of! I had a great time working with him. So editing was done in just a few days. Diwa de Leon, who did the sound mix design and soundtrack, just had three days to do the job. And yet he did a very respectable first mix. It was a great creative team! We just had enough time to meet the deadline.”
He recounted how “Busong,” which features a cameo by Australian actor Chris Haywood, got considered for Directors’ Fortnight. “I attended the Hong Kong Asian Film Financing Forum where the Cannes programmers took a peek of my latest work,” Solito began. “Some of them said that they haven’t seen anything like it before. Then Jeremy, who often goes to Manila to look for potential Filipino film entries, and Frederic Boyer saw the footage. They told me to submit a DVD.”
“I only found out later that Frederic is the artistic director of the Directors’ Fortnight!” Solito revealed. “He emailed me and said, ‘I am so honored to have your unique and wonderful film. Everybody in the selection committee loves your ‘Busong.’ After we saw it, we sent the invitation to you 10 minutes afterward. We feel good and happy with it and we will celebrate ‘Busong’ very soon.’”
Solito is grateful to Cinemalaya for providing “the seed money to make this film possible.” He said that “…Maximo,” which won three awards in the Berlinale, and “Philippine Science” were also made possible by Cinemalaya. “I’m especially thankful to Nes Jardin, Laurice Guillen and Robbie Tan who have been supportive of my art all these years,” he added.
After the Cinemalaya Film Festival in July where the movie will make its Philippine premiere, Solito hopes to show “Busong” to his tribe in Palawan.
“The Film Development Council of the Philippines has been doing a tour around the country of good Filipino films through Sineng Pambansa,” he said. “The chairman, Briccio Santos, and I talked about the possibility of holding Sineng Pambansa in Palawan after the Cinemalaya festival. That will be my chance to show the film to my tribe.”
Asked what he thinks will be “Busong’s” appeal in Cannes, he answered, “I asked the same question to Jeremy. He said that all the programmers thought it was ‘soothing.’ I thought about what he meant by that. When I had a talk with my brilliant cinematographer Louie Quirino, he said, ‘That must be the best compliment because it means it’s not jarring, it’s not disturbing but fresh and new.’ I hope the audience in Cannes will feel the same.”
Solito is also hoping that his “tribe’s story will be enjoyed by an international audience. I hope my mother’s tales will enlighten them about Palawan’s people and its changing landscape.”
Ever proud of his tribal roots and Filipino heritage, Solito announced that when he walks on the Cannes red carpet, he will be “wearing a barong with piña cloth woven by my tribe. We are going all out Filipiniana.” Solito’s barong will be made by designer Oliver Tolentino, himself an acclaimed proponent of Philippine fabrics.