Faced with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody murders and brazen lies, ethically conflicted police lieutenant Hermes Papauran continues his struggle to find a resolution to a 15-year-old case around a volcanic ash-laden landscape and an impenetrable lake.
Cinematography
Volcanic ash transforms every frame into living, breathing monument.
Acting
John Lloyd Cruz's silent breakdowns speak louder than any dialogue.
Direction
Lav Diaz stretches time until you forget movies normally end.
Director
Lav Diaz
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot during actual Duterte presidency; cast and crew faced real political danger filming drug war critique.
The lake references Filipino folklore of drowned cities and colonial erasure—Taal Volcano's multiple destructions mirror national trauma.
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