A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (Filipino: Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis) is a 2016 historical fantasy film directed by Lav Diaz. A co-production between the Philippines and Singapore, the film competed for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, eventually winning the Alfred Bauer Prize. It was theatrically released in the Philippines by Star Cinema.
Contents
Cast
John Lloyd Cruz as Isagani
Piolo Pascual as Simoun / Crisostomo Ibarra
Hazel Orencio as Gregoria 'Oryang' De Jesus
Alessandra De Rossi as Ceasaria Belarmino
Susan Africa as Aling Hule
Joel Saracho as Mang Karyo
Bernardo Bernardo as Lalake / Tikbalang
Cherie Gil as Babae / Tikbalang
Angel Aquino as Androgynous / Tikbalang
Sid Lucero as Basilio
Ely Buendia as Musikero
Bart Guingona as Kapitan Heneral
Kuya Manzano as Padre Camorra
Menggie Cobarrubias as Padre Florentino
Ronnie Lazaro as Sebastian Caneo
Reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with criticism mostly directed towards its pacing and confusing narrative. Guy Lodge of Variety states in his review that "A major disappointment from a major filmmaker, Diaz's latest super-sized tapestry of historical fact, folklore and cine-poetry is typically ambitious in its expressionism—but sees the helmer venturing into the kind of declamatory, didactic rhetoric that his recent stunners Norte, the End of History and From What Is Before so elegantly avoided."