First Light
A nun encounters a lethal criminal conspiracy and begins to question her beliefs in this poetic, sensory meditation on faith, power and corruption.
A gentle and mild-mannered middle-aged nun living in a neglected centuries-old convent, Sister Yolanda sees her mission in life as giving spiritual guidance to the people of her community and, particularly, young novice Sister Arlene. Her conscience is left shaken, however, when she bears witness to a strange and distressing sequence of events in a hospital room. At first puzzled, she soon realises that the incident may have more sinister and far-reaching implications – and that high-ranking figures are determined to stop her, or anyone else, from finding out the truth.
Shot in a verdant mountainous landscape in northern Luzon, this MIFF Premiere Fund–supported feature debut by celebrated Filipino-Australian photographer James J. Robinson evokes Ingmar Bergman’s Winter Light and Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s Black Narcissus in its masterfully composed images and thought-provoking interrogation of faith. Starring veteran Filipina actor Ruby Ruiz and industry legend Maricel Soriano, First Light is a slow-burn crime drama that you won’t be able to tear your eyes from.
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Writer/director James J. Robinson is a guest of the festival and will be in attendance at all metropolitan sessions, along with the Friday 15 August Pivotonian Cinema Geelong session, Sunday 17 August Showbiz Cinema Ballarat session and Saturday 23 August Village Cinemas Geelong session of the film. Producers Gabrielle Pearson and Jane Pe Aguirre, co-producer Christelle Dychangco, and cast members Emmanuel Santos, Kare Adea and Ruby Ruiz are also guests of the festival and will be in attendance at the Sunday 10 August and Tuesday 12 August sessions.
Director James J. Robinson is participating in the MIFF Talks event The Screen Show: MIFF’s Bright Horizons Filmmakers. This is a ‘Pay What You Wish’ event.
Tickets
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