Brillante Mendoza’s take on the drug trade through the eyes of a female pusher in the slums, Ma’Rosa is the official entry of the Philippines to the Foreign Language Category of the Academy Awards.
The film is why Jaclyn Jose took home a Best Actress nod from the Cannes Film Festival and is currently playing at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was chosen among eight other movies by the Film Academy of the Philippines including Lav Diaz’s Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis (Lullaby to Sorrowful Mystery) and Erik Matti’s Honor Thy Father.
The Philippines has been having a good run this year with awards from Berlin, to Cannes, and more recently, Venice. Here’s to hoping the streak continues until the 89th Academy Awards on Feb. 26, 2017.
Good luck to Brillante and the cast and crew of Ma’Rosa!
Photo courtesy of AFP
