Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

One might think that combining two passionate persons in one project might be a recipe for disaster with the risk of one overpowering the other, but in the case of Senator Loren Legarda, an influential advocate of the environment, and Cannes award-winning independent film director Brillante Mendoza, this was not the case.

Legarda, also a well-known journalist in the early years of her career, ties up with the fervent filmmaker of realistic movies Brillante Mendoza in the 30-minute film Buhos, a documentary picture which serves as an eye-opener of what climate change is really about and how can it be prevented.

In an exclusive interview with the PEP, Legarda told the story on how she and the director Mendoza first met.

Senator Legarda and director Mendoza crossed paths in the initiative of Mendoza to invite the senator to watch his premiere. But unfortunately, the senator failed to make it to the screening; but they re-set their meeting on another day instead over breakfast and lunch.

"Sabi ko, ‘Bilib ako sa ginagawa mo as a Filipino, na na-recognize siya sa Cannes (I said ‘I am amazed with what you are doing as a Filipino who got recognized in Cannes’).’ Tapos siya naman, ‘Interesado ako sa ginagawa mo sa environment (Then he replied, ‘I’m also interested in your advocacy in the environment). Ano ba ‘yang climate change (What is climate change anyway)?’ Ipinaliwanag ko. Hanggang sa magsama kami at sabi niya, ‘Gagawan kita ng documentary (I explained it. He told me we have to collaborate, and said, ‘I will make you a documentary),’" the senator marveled.

Mendoza, well-known as the Filipino to win best director in the prestigious Cannes film festival for his film Kinatay (Butchered), a film about an ambitious man wanting to make enough money to marry his girlfriend, finds himself in a job that involves committing murder without him initially knowing it.

The director’s remarkable films such as Kinatay gained both praises and criticisms not only from experts but also from the public.

American film director Quentin Tarantino, for one, is a fan of the film Kinatay.

Other critics say, however, that Mendoza’s films, not only Kinatay is brought to the audience with much heaviness that leaves its audience feeling inconvenient afterwards.

In Mendoza’s defense, he said in an interview with Jessica Soho that the real point in making his films is not to entertain, but to stimulate the audience’s curiosity.

Mendoza said he wanted to show reality through his films; and the feelings—may it be inconvenience or delight—be felt by its audience.