HARANA

"Infectiously winning ... honest and open-hearted, the kind [of film] that leaves behind the glow of romance." - Variety

Once upon a time if a young Filipino man wanted to woo a girl there was only one thing for it: harana. Backed by friends and the town's finest guitarist he would stand beneath her window and serenade her until she invited him in or sent him away.

But harana is now a dying tradition. Benito Bautista's heart-warming documentary follows classical guitarist Florante Aguilar as he seeks out three of the only remaining harana masters and tries to convince them to sing one last time. Unabashedly celebratory, Harana (like Buena Vista Social Club before it) is a shining testament to the music and soul of a rich and complex culture, a glorious ode to things lost and the things we cannot afford to lose, and a nostalgic record for future generations.

"Beautifully shot and tenderly realised, with great music." - San Francisco Chronicle

D Benito Bautista P Fides Enriquez, Florante Aguilar S Florante Aguilar, Benito Bautista WS Fides Enriquez L Tagalog, Ilocano, English w/English subtitles TD DCP/2012