Charo Santos-Concio’s

Lav Diaz’s latest film, “Ang Babaeng Humayo” (The Woman Who Left), starring the comebacking Charo Santos in the title role, has been chosen as an entry — the only one from Asia — in the Main Competition of the world’s oldest film festival, the Venice International Film Festival.

Along with Cannes and Berlin, Venice is considered as among the “Big Three” festivals.

“Ang Babaeng Humayo” will vie for the Golden Lion, the festival’s top prize, with 19 other films including Tom Ford’s “Nocturnal Animals” (starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams), Derek Cianfrance’s “The Light Between Oceans” (Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander), and Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” (Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone).

Shot in and around Santos’ hometown in Calapan, Mindoro and also starring John Lloyd Cruz, Noni Buencamino, Shamaine Buencamino and Michael de Mesa, the film is reportedly one of the shortest features (three hours and 46 minutes) of Diaz, whose last film, “Hele sa Hiwagang Lapis,” ran for eight hours.

Santos last appeared on the big screen in 1999’s “Esperanza: The Movie” but maintained a high profile as president and CEO of ABS-CBN until her retirement last year. She won Best Actress at the Asian Film Festival in 1977 with her acting debut in Mike de Leon’s “Itim.”

InterAksyon.com

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