MASTERS OF LONG-FORM CINEMA: Lav Diaz’s THE WOMAN WHO LEFT
2017, 226 minutes
Philippines
Language: Tagalog with English subtitles
Director: Lav Diaz
Distributor: Kino Lorbeer
Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2016 Venice Film Festival, Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz’s epic story of revenge deferred functions as a tale of urban theater and class warfare. After 30 years in prison, a woman discovers that her friend and fellow inmate committed the murder of which she was accused. This leads to her release and subsequent discovery of the man who framed her. Inspired by Tolstoy, The Woman Who Left is a sensitive expression of family and forgiveness.
“Wholly absorbing… Dickensian in scope, this is a great achievement from an exemplar of the art.” —Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
“Every shot burns with condensed emotions and human empathy.” —Clarence Tsui, The Hollywood Reporter
“Crystal clear, sharp, stupendous and tremendous.” —Olaf Möller, Film Comment
The Woman Who Left is screening Sunday February 11 and Tuesday Feb 13.
Over the decades, many filmmakers have rejected the narrow range of running times favored by the marketplace and treated the film screen as an expanded canvas for long-form expression. The Parkway is proud to launch a new monthly series presenting film masterworks new and old, from visionary landmarks of slow cinema to 21st Century poetic epics. Each film will screen twice, with weekend matinee and weekday evening options.