Lav Diaz epic ‘Norte’ to represent PHL at 87th Academy Awards

Lav Diaz's four-hour masterpiece “Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan,” is the official Philippine entry to the 87th Academy Awards, category of Best Foreign Film.

Diaz, whose works often stretch way past the usual 90 minutes (another film of his, the five-hour "Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon," has also won acclaim at international festivals), received a five-minute-long standing ovation when he premiered “Norte” at the Cannes film festival last May.

Described as a "reimagining" of Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment," the film tells the story of Joaquin (Archie Alemania), who is sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit while the real killer, Fabian (Sid Lucero), roams free.

The film also stars Angeli Bayani, who took home the Gawad Urian Award for Best Actress last June for her performance as Joaquin's wife Eliza.

“Norte” has been screened in several international film festivals, including the Cannes, Cinemanila International, and the Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festivals.

Critics have been calling it a melding of modern cinema and the 19th century novel. — Vida Cruz/BM, GMA News