Women of the Weeping River tops 40th Urian

MANILA, Philippines - “I told myself, ‘I think we’ve made the right thing. May ginawa kaming tama,’” said director Sheron Dayoc whose film Women of the Weeping River was the big winner at the recently-held 40th Gawad Urian.

The movie, which explores rido, clan war, in Mindanao, scored six awards (Best Direction and Best Screenplay for Sheron; Best Supporting Actress, Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans; Best Cinematography, Rommel Sales; Best Editing, Carlo Francisco Manatad; and Best Picture).

In his acceptance speech, Sheron offered his win to Mindanao cinema, which according to him, in an interview, that “there’s a growing number of filmmakers coming from Mindanao. Hindi madaling gumawa ng films doon sa Mindanao because we don’t have that strong access to what we have here in Manila.”

So the recent feat and fate of Women of the Weeping River will be a source of inspiration among Mindanaoan filmmakers to make narratives close to their cultural context.

In The Root of Conflict and Despair, one of the articles published in the souvenir program, Manunuri Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso wrote: “Sheron Dayoc, the director and writer of Women of the Weeping River, brings up the rido issue, the clashing of two families, the unending cyclical conflict and despair that is no strange experience in numerous areas of Mindanao. Generations of family feuds have escalated into a gnawing national crisis. This film brings the discourse to the big screen and contributes to the deeply-rooted generational issue.”

“They saw the sincerity (of the film),” answered Sheron when asked why the Manunuri gave their Best Picture nod to his movie. “That’s what I truly wanna say through the film — the sincerity in telling the story. Makikita at makikita ng mga tao.” Perhaps that sincerity comes from his real intention as auteur.

“Gumagawa tayo ng films because we want to share and tell stories, especially for independent films,” he said in another interview. “Hindi naman kami kumikita dito. But we just want to do this. Wala sa plano namin to win an award. But of course, we hoped na manalo kami; it was not our main objective.”

Again, Sheron dedicated the movie to the “people of Mindanao who continue to struggle.” The director said he is developing a new project with TBA to be filmed soon in Zamboanga.

Die Beautiful was the second big winner, topping the male acting category. Paolo Ballesteros, who was in his Kim Kardashian look, and Christian Bables were declared Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

“Basta may movie, go nang go,” said Paolo of what he will do next after the Urian win. “Pero siyempre titignan natin yung may magandang script.”  

The TV host dedicated his award to “direk Jun Robles Lana. Siya ang puso at isip ng buong pelikula namin. Hindi rin magkakaroon ng Best Actor, hindi rin magkakaroon ng Best Supporting Actor kung walang best director o magaling na direktor.”

As transgender woman Tricia Echevarria, Paolo delivered a sterling performance and was cited, from the words of Manunuri Javier Alfonso, for a “malikhaing pagganap sa isang karakter sa pelikula na nakamamangha, nakakaaliw, nakapagpapaliwanag sa kakaibang sitwasyon. Angat ang kaniyang sensitibo, metikoloso at bukas na paglalarawan sa malalim at kumplikadong konsepto ng katauhang inihahayag.”

The highlight of Urian was the awarding of Natatanging Gawad Urian to Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos for her body of work as an actor. She won eight Gawad Urian and had the distinction of winning Best Actress for three straight years (Relasyon, Broken Marriage and Sister Stella L., from 1982 to 1984).

According to Vilma, her first Urian had inspired her “to do more good films, meaningful and significant movies. Mula po nung manalo ako ng Urian, parang nasa isip ko na dapat ang lahat ng movies na gagawin ko ay may laging ibig sabihin. So it’s not even my acting, it’s the film that I do. Kailangan laging may ibig sabihin. Laging significant.”

This writer had a chat with Manunuri Dr. Rolando Tolentino before the showcase started. From the conversation, I could gather that the Manunuri always look for innovation from films and artisans.

“Hinahanap talaga namin yung next level,” said Dr. Tolentino. “(This is the reason why) Gawad Urian continues to be relevant… dahil ang Manunuri ay may continuity, mayroong memory. Naaalala ko yung nagawa nito na hindi pa nagagawa.” The creative people (from directing, acting, cinematography to music) should surpass what they have done in their previous works. “Gusto naman namin na may innovation. Kung walang innovation, it is just the status quo pervading.”

They are also after the transformative nature of works. The latter speaks of Urian roots that emerged from the political landscape of martial law when it was difficult to unpack and tell the truth. Films should mirror the reality Juan dela Cruz faces every day and give him space to reflect on it.    

Here’s the honor roll:

•Best Picture — Women of the Weeping River (Southern Lantern Studios, Haut Lesmains and TBA)

•Best Actor — Paolo Ballesteros (Die Beautiful)

•Best Actress — Hasmine Kilip (Pamilya Ordinaryo)

•Best Direction — Sheron Dayoc (Women of the Weeping River) 

•Best Supporting Actor — Christian Bables (Die Beautiful)

•Best Supporting Actress — Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans (Women of the Weeping River)

•Best Screenplay — Sheron Dayoc (Women of the Weeping River) 

•Best Cinematography — Rommel Sales (Women of the Weeping River)

•Best Production Design — Erik Manalo and Rommel Laquian (Saving Sally)

•Best Editing —  Carlo Francisco Manatad (Women of the Weeping River)

•Best Music — Jema Pamintuan (Tuos)

•Best Sound — Mark Laccay (Hinulid)

•Best Short Film — Nakaw

•Best Documentary — Sunday Beauty Queen

•Natatanging Gawad Urian — Vilma Santos