The Metro Manila Film Festival 2012 is about to enter its 2nd week tomorrow.  Luck of all lucks, its most awarded entry (eight awards), which has been critically acclaimed internationally, a little indie called THY WOMB shot in Tawi-tawi, will finally be shown here in General Santos City, after all.

From Robinsons Place GenSan, we received word that Cannes Film Festival awardee Brillante Mendoza‘s movie featuring Superstar Nora Aunor, who plays Shalela, a barren Badjao midwife, will be screened at their Movieworld, from January 1 – 8, 2013.  (Update:  SM City GenSan has began screening the movie yesterday, January 4 until the 8th.)

Thy Womb earlier won for Nora Aunor the Bisatro D’ Oro Award for Best Actress from Venice film critics and another Best Actress plum from the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, Australia.  The same award-giving bodies also gave the Best Director Awards to Brillante Mendoza.

I had the privilege to watch Thy Womb during its Philippine premier at the SM Lanang in Davao City sometime in November (and even met my idol Nora Aunor up, close and personal – a lifelong dream) and I must say that the movie deserves all the accolades and awards it has garnered from international film critics.

Bariles & Nora Aunor

The intimate audience of cinephiles at the Davao premier who saw it along with me, including my Noranian Friends Forever buddies Nestor De Guzman, Epee Rafanan, etc.; my blogger buddies, Kikko Kalabud and GandaEverSoMuch had to give it a standing ovation because that was the only way at that time we can show to Direk Brillante Mendoza and Nora Aunor how much we felt about it.  His obra was inspiring, absorbing, cerebral and fascinating, to say at the very least.

Bloggers and Noranians together at the SM Lanang Philippine premier of Thy Womb. November 23, 2012.

In more ways than one, it opened my eyes to the gentleness and industry of the Badjaos who like the rest of us, have the same concerns, be it about love, family, and survival.  It may not be for everyone especially those who have been exposed to a hundred Pepeng Agimats, a thousand Sisterakas and a million Shake, Rattle & Rolls all their lives but hey, here’s your chance to see something categorized as an “indie film” that challenges your  way of viewing, understanding and appreciating great cinema.

Nora Aunor & Director Brillante Mendoza at the cocktails for the Thy Womb Philippine premier, SM City Lanang, Davao City.

Still, if you won’t take my word for it and if the numerous awards that Thy Womb has received have not made you decide to watch it starting tomorrow at Robinsons GenSan, then here’s more.  I am sharing here a collection of feedback via Twitter from those who have seen it first,  mostly in Metro Manila.  Some of the tweets below are  from famous personalities but most are from the common tao and what they think about this Brillante Mendoza film.  A few are from reviews of online publications.

Here they go in random order… (you may need to refresh the page if the tweets do not appear)…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In closing, here’s the Official Trailer of Thy Womb.

Please share this on your Facebook profiles and Twitter updates.  It’s time we support Filipino movies that we should be proud of especially one about our Mindanao.

Happy New Year everyone and see you at Robinsons Movieworld GenSan and SM City Cinema GenSan!

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