NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY
Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan
A sublime exploration of guilt, redemption and the consequences of violence.
A disaffected student commits a murder. An innocent labourer, convicted in his stead, receives a life sentence. Against the backdrop of a Philippines still recovering from the ravages of colonialism and dictatorship, a winding morality tale plays out.
Partially inspired by Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, Lav Diaz's 250-minute behemoth was hailed by many as one of the best films at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. With mesmerising imagery and epic scale, Norte, the End of History is an allegory for a country ripped asunder by class, religion and power.
"Diaz makes a point to treat cinema as a complex, multifaceted art form in which sensual, intellectual, and sacred experiences are inextricably linked." – Cinema Scope