INDEPENDENCIA

Early 20th century Philippines. The sounds of war signal the arrival of the Americans. A mother and son flee to the mountains, hoping for a quiet life. One day, the son discovers a wounded woman in the middle of the forest, and decides to bring her home. Years pass. Man, woman and child live in isolation from the growing chaos. But a coming storm soon threatens their existence, and American troops draw nearer.

Independencia is the second part of a trilogy that began with A Short Film About the Indio National (Or the Prolonged Sorrow of the Filipinos) and takes place during major periods of struggle in Philippine history. It continues the aesthetic design for the trilogy started by Indio National, which is for each film to mimmick the cinematic style of the era and culture it depicts. For Indio National which took place at the end of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, that meant shooting in the vain of the silentfilm, with a static camera, intertitles, and simple animation. For Independencia, set during the American occupation, it means shooting entirely in a studio, utilizing artificial backdrops, and applying heavy make-up on the actors. (Alexis Tioseco)