Aparisyon (transl. Apparition) is a 2012 Philippine psychological drama film[1] written and directed by Isabel Sandoval.[a] Set in early 1970s, where the story about the nuns in the period immediately preceding the declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Marcos.[2] It is one of the official entries for the New Breed Full Length Feature Category in Cinemalaya 2012.[3]
| Aparisyon | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Directed by | Isabel Sandoval[a] |
| Screenplay by | Isabel Sandoval[a] |
| Story by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jay Abello |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Teresa Barrozo |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language |
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Aparisyon was invited to film festivals around the world, including Deauville Asian Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award.[4] At the Hawaii International Film Festival, the film won the NETPAC Award "for its courageous exploration of religious faith, guilt and forgiveness through masterful storytelling and visual imagery".[5] The film was also nominated for the New Currents Award at the 2012 Busan International Film Festival.[6]
As of 2021, along with Señorita, it is available for streaming through the Criterion Channel.[7]
Synopsis
editSet in 1971, the sisters of the Adoration monastery in a remote town in Rizal in the Philippines lead quiet and peaceful lives.[8] Remy (Mylene Dizon), an extern nun who is able to leave the monastery from time to time to do errands for the other nuns, learns from her mother that her activist brother is missing. She asks Mother Superior Ruth (Cuyugan-Asensio) for an indefinite leave of absence to help her family search for her brother. When her request is turned down, she starts secretly attending meetings of families with missing relatives. Lourdes (Jodi Sta. Maria) becomes an extern too to go with Remy to attend a meeting.[9] They fall victim to violence on their way back.
Cast
edit- Jodi Sta. Maria as Sister Lourdes
- Mylene Dizon as Sister Remy
- Fides Cuyugan-Asensio as Mother Superior
- Raquel Villavicencio as Sister Vera
- Maria Monica Reyes as Sister Emilia
Awards
edit| Date | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 8th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival | New Breed - Best Film | Isabel Sandoval | Nominated | [3] |
| Best Sound | Wild Sound | Won | |||
| 2012 Busan International Film Festival | New Currents Award | Isabel Sandoval | Nominated | [6] | |
| 2012 Deauville Film Festival | Grand Prix | Nominated | [4] | ||
| Audience Award | Won | ||||
| 2012 Hawaii International Film Festival | NETPAC Award | Won | [5] | ||
| 2013 | Young Critics Circle | Best Performance | Fides Cuyugan-Asensio | Nominated | [10] |
| Best Editing | Jerrold Tarog and Isabel Sandoval | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Isabel Sandoval and Jerry Gracio | Nominated | |||
| Gawad Urian Awards 2013 | Best Actress | Jodi Sta. Maria | Nominated | [11] | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Mylene Dizon | Nominated | |||
| Raquel Villavicencio | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Exclusive Interview: "I wanted to break as many rules as possible" Isabel Sandoval on her early films Señorita & Apparition now playing on Criterion Channel". The Queer Review. May 10, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Erica Gonzales, "Director Isabel Sandoval Wants to Shed Light on Invisible Women", February 24, 2021, Harper's Bazaar
- ^ a b "(MOVIE) Aparisyon, an entry to the 8th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival". The Rod Magaru Show. June 20, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Indie film Aparisyon wins Audience Award at the Deauville Asian Film Festival in France". SPOT.PH. March 11, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Jodi's indie film wins award in Hawaii film fest". ABS-CBN News. October 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Eight Filipino Films Take Part At The BIFF". ph.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ In ‘Apparition,’ a Philippine Drama, Nuns Face Civil Strife", May 9, 2021, The Criterion Collection
- ^ Jeannette Catsoulis, "In ‘Apparition,’ a Philippine Drama, Nuns Face Civil Strife", July 9, 2013, New York Times
- ^ "Apparition (Aparisyon): Busan Review", October 7, 2012, Hollywood Reporter
- ^ "Nora Aunor receives 5th acting citation from Young Critics Circle". PEP.ph. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "36th Gawad Urian: Nominations". Rappler. June 18, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2021.