Lino Brocka's 'Bona' to be screened at Cannes 2024
A restored version of Lino Brocka's 1980 hit film Bona is set to premiere at this year's Cannes Classics film festival this September.
Bona, which is directed by Brocka and produced by National Artist Nora Aunor, is set to screen on Sept. 25 as one of the films under the festivals's Restored Prints category.
Cannes released the announcement of the film's inclusion last April 25 along with restored prints like Steven Spielberg's 1970 movie The Sugarland Express, Jean-Pierre Melville's Army of Shadows released in 1969, and Marco Bellochio's Slap the Monster on Page One back from 1972, among many other titles.
This marks the first time the restored version of Bona will be screened publicly by Kani Releasing and film distribution company Carlotta Films. According to Cannes, the new version is "restored in 4K by Carlotta Films and Kani Releasing at the Cité de Mémoire laboratory (Paris) from the original 35mm image and sound negatives preserved by LTC Patrimoine."
Touted as one of Brocka's greatest films of all time, Bona is headlined by Aunor and fellow veteran actor Philip Salvador. It follows the story of a teenager who becomes obsessed with a bit actor who unfortunately turns out to be a gigolo who would take advantage of her and other women.
Aunor played the titular character while Salvador portrayed the bit actor Gardo based on the screenplay by Cenen Ramones.
The film was initially released in 1980 as an entry to the sixth Metro Manila Film Festival. Its upcoming screening in Cannes would be the second time the film is participating in the festival since its first run back in 1981.