The history of Philippine cinema is scattered with classic narratives and gems of a golden age that still resonate deeply in the present day.
Sari Dalena’s “Cinemartyrs” tackles one lesser-known chapter of this history, as alternative filmmaking began to decline before a new millenium began, and the integral part female filmmakers played in getting Philippine cinema to where it is now.
The film stars Nour Hooshmand as a young director who decides the shoot on the site of where hundreds were slaughtered, after being tested by a committee belittling her skills.
“As soon as the camera starts rolling, angry spirits are awakened, and the lives of her team and the villagers are put in peril. The brutal traumas of history echoing to the present day,” the movie’s synopsis goes.
“Cinemartyrs” went on to win the Special Jury Prize at the 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, winning also Best Director for Dalena and Best Original Musical Score for veteran composer Teresa Barrozo.
It tied with “Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan” and “Child No. 82 (Anak ni Boy Kana)” for the most awards, ahead of Best Feature Film winner “Bloom Where You Are Planted” – a documentary about three land activists from Cagayan.
Philstar.com spoke with Hooshmand and co-star Bong Cabrera about the messages of “Cinemartyrs,” both about the difficulty of filmmaking and the difference it makes with women at the helm.
Cabrera reflected on a speech that deputy festival director Tess Rances gave when the 21st Cinemalaya officially opened, taking a dig at lawmakers recently tagged in corruption.
“While millions of taxpayers are skimmed by politicians who are supposed to be in service of them, artists scrape the bottom of the pot to bring their ideas to life,” Rances said at the time, urging the government to allocate funds for the arts, particularly for programs dedicated to film.
The actor, a resident artist of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, stressed how difficult it was to make movies without government support, amplified further by rampant corruption.
Hooshmand chipped in that financial constraint is a big challenge in filmmaking, and it pushes artists to be more creative with the resources they have.
“Also tackled in ‘Cinemartyrs’ [ay] yung process of filmmaking, the joys and rewards, and how hard it is to actually bring a film to life,” Hooshmand added, comparing it to giving birth.
The actress also said the film showcases how female directors work, which is very different fromt the way men do art.
“Merong inequality ‘to na I think the film addresses in such an interesting way,” said Hooshmand to which Cabrera added, “It is a different layer as well because it’s a film about women making films.”
Hooshmand had supporting roles in the Cinemalaya films “When This Is All Over” and “Blue Room” (both with Juan Karlos Labajo), the latter by 2022 Best Director winner Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan, but this is her first time leading a cast.
She dedicated her role to family and peers but noted that much collaboration was involved. Cabrera even pointed out to Philstar.com that it took Dalena two decades to work on the project.
Intercut into “Cinemartyrs” are guerilla filmmaking-inspired clips from Dalena’s documentary “Memories of a Forgotten War” and many archival footage from pre-war LVN Pictures.
The studio was considered the leader in Philippine film production prior to its 2005 closure after almost 70 years, and Dalena was allowed to such clips with the approval of fellow director Mike de Leon before he passed away last August.
Speaking of women in Philippine cinema, veteran filmmaker Raquel Villavicencio appears in “Cinemartyrs,” as do revered director Lav Diaz and National Artist Kidlat Tahimik.
Cabrera humorously referenced seeing a post comparing “Cinemartyrs” to the Marvel movie “Avengers: Endgame” because of how it puts together legends of alternative cinema.
Also in the extensive cast are Cedrick Juan, Angel Aquino, Iana Bernardez, Nor Domingo, Ligaya Amilbangsa, Soliman Cruz, Shane Bernabe, Roven Alejandro, Dexter Macaraeg, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, and Rolando Inocencio, among many others.
“Lucky kami actually, I consider myself lucky na kasama ako sa pelikulang ‘to with all these legends,” Cabrera said.
Hooshmand added it was inspiring to see giants of Philippine cinema supporting Dalena, and it stems from their friendship beyond the film’s story, “Hearing them, seeing them, feeling their energy on set is really a big push for us to do better.”
Tahimik, who plays himself, shared invaluable thoughts about his filmmaking process which makes Hooshmand more grateful to hear first-hand as both a character and artist.
The two actors clarified to Philstar.com that Villavicencio, Diaz, and Tahimik are only actors in the film and did not have any direct input in the production.
Cabrera recently starred in Diaz’s “Magellan” and he described the director as being very chill, collaborative, and having lots of respect.
“That’s the thing about making film. You have to work with people you love working with and consider friends and family so that yung pelikula na magagawa ninyo ay maganda kakalabasan,” said Cabrera.
“And you trust them that alam na nila yung ginagawa nila, alam na yung ginagawa nila,” Hooshmand ended. “You play your own parts.”