A Fully Restored 4K Version of Lino Brocka's Bona Set For Cannes This Year
A new 4k-restored version of Lino Brocka's elusive classic Bona has been chosen to be screened at the Cannes International Film Festival's Classics selection. This also marks the first time that the version will be released in France.
Released in 1980, the Filipino drama was one of the official entries at the sixth Metro Manila Film Festival and would be shown at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes the following year. In the past, it would be screened in theaters in London, Los Angeles, and Torino.
Cinema One and the Cinematheque had shown a copy of Bona in the 2000s, as well. Prints of the movie had long been stashed away at the Cinematheque Francais and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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This film was restored with help from Carlotta Films and Kani Releasing at the Cité de Mémoire laboratory in Paris. It was based on the original 35-mm image and sound negatives preserved by LTC Patrimoine. Bona will be released in France in September 2024.
A film that draws parallels between religious and celebrity fanaticism, Bona is one of the lesser-seen works from the famed director and among his major works. The script was written by Cenen Ramones and stars Nora Aunor as Bona, Phillip Salvador as Gardo, Raquel Montesa as Nancy, Rustica Carpio as Bona's mother, and Marissa Delgado as Katrina. Director Joel Lamangan also appears in the film. Aunor would win her second Best Actress award at Gawad Urian for her performance.
Bona will be joining restored pictures like Slap the Monster on Page One by Marco Bellocchio, Army of Shadows by Jean-Pierre Melville, Shanghai Blues by Tsui Hark, and Four Nights of a Dreamer by Robert Bresson. Opening the selection will be Napoléon par Abel Gance, opening on May 14, 2024 at Salle Debussy.
Established 20 years ago, the Cannes Classics selection features celebrated works, restored prints, and documentaries in the history of cinema.
