synopsis
Encyclopaedias describe St. Elmo's fire as a harmless meteorological phenomenon caused by a strong static discharge. In Philippine mythology, a "santelmo" is a wandering soul of a deceased person who has not found peace yet. Similarly, young men wandering through countryside seek in vain reconciliation with the world in this hypnotic black and white poem that resembles the work of Lav Diaz because of its contemplative pace. The three young men, whose aimless journey is accompanied only by rustling of leaves and grass, chirping of insects, and singing of birds, speak about people for whom they have suffered and whom they plan to take revenge on. Yet, they are prevented from freeing themselves by memories that cannot be killed.
„We exist in nothingness. We live searching for answers."
biography
Liryc Paolo Dela Cruz (1992) is a Filipino director, screenwriter and producer. He worked as Lav Diaz’s assistant, and he is considered a prominent figure in the slow cinema movement. His minimalist, non-narrative films
Notes from Unknown Maladies (2018) and
On Endings (2020) premiered at the Ji.hlava festival.
more about film
| director: | Liryc Dela Cruz |
| cast: | Narfed Egar, John Michael De Castro, Jay Mark Serante |
| producer: | Liryc Dela Cruz, Leonardo Birindelli, Evelyn Vargas-Knaebel, Vladelyte Ramos |
| script: | Liryc Dela Cruz |
| photography: | Liryc Dela Cruz |
| editing: | Liryc Dela Cruz |
| co-producer: | Bianca Zialcita |
| executive producer: | Stephane Triffault, Liryc Dela Cruz |
| art director: | Liryc Dela Cruz |
dok.revue.
read more about the film in dok.revue
Film at festival
| premiere type: | World Premiere |
| festival edition: | 2021 |
| section: | Opus Bonum |
| language: | Cebuano |
| subtitles: | English |
| colour: | Black and white |
Info
| director: | Liryc Dela Cruz |
| original title: | Santelmo |
| country: | Italy, Philippines |
| year: | 2021 |
| running time: | 52 min. |
