Filipino director Brillante Mendoza’s latest film Motherland made its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival. In an interview, Mendoza shared his motivations for creating Motherland, discussed his upcoming project Chameleon and addressed challenges faced by the Filipino film industry.
Motherland tells the story of Tom Dao-ayen, a member of the Philippines’ Special Action Force (SAF), from the Ifugao tribe in northern Luzon. Dao-ayen was involved in the 2015 Mamasapano raid, which resulted in the deaths of 44 SAF members. Mendoza revealed that his focus for the film was on the foot soldiers and their experiences.
“They are the ones who were affected by the miscommunication from their superiors and the president himself, and these soldiers suffered and gave their lives for their country,” said Mendoza. “At the end of the day, there is a question of whether their sacrifices were worth it.”
Rocco Nacino plays the lead role of Dao-ayen. During filming, Nacino discovered a personal connection to the story when he recognized his last name among the 44 deceased SAF members, later confirming a family link.
The film, produced by Krisma Maclang Fajardo, also stars Cesar Montano, Ricky Davao and Vince Rillon. It was one of the most challenging films Mendoza has directed, shot during the sweltering summer in the Philippines and in remote forest areas. Despite the difficulties, Mendoza praised his cast and crew, remarking, “The actors were very cooperative. The shooting conditions made everyone more inspired.”
Following the screening at Busan International Film Festival, Mendoza will resume work on his next project, Chameleon, which follows a Filipino transgender woman in Japan during the 1990s. Reflecting on his 40-year career, Mendoza expressed a desire to explore new genres, including horror and crime.
Mendoza also spoke about the current challenges in the Philippine film industry, highlighting the rising costs of production and limited funding opportunities. He expressed concern about the large volume of unreleased films in the Philippines, noting, “There are about 40 to 50 finished films, and by the end of the year, there will be another 50. I keep thinking: where will these 100 films go?”
Mendoza emphasized the importance of television in sustaining the industry. “What makes the industry survive in the Philippines, like many other parts of the world, is television,” he said, adding that the movie industry globally, including Hollywood, remains challenging.
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