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With the last of the anti-covid measures being lifted, shops being reopened and people being able to walk through their hometowns without wearing masks all the time, we have to question what this new normal is. The concept itself suggests, one the one hand, a way back to the way things were, but also a different kind of awareness on the other hand. While the former certainly seems true for many, the latter is rather vague, with many societies, politicians and companies returning to their status quo, often repeating the same formula that has made things worse to begin with. When Filipino director Jun Robles Lana started making his new feature “Your Mother's Son”, the news of the being infected or killed by the virus was one horror next to the reports of people being shot by then-president Duterte's henchmen. Infamous for his provocative approach to his subjects and themes,...

Filipino filmmaker Jun Robles Lana is making his second appearance at Toronto International Film Festival with Your Mother’s Son, which is receiving its world premiere in the Centrepiece section.

Co-scripted by Lana and Elmer Gatchalian, the film tells the story of a hard-working mother and her delinquent son whose relationship is challenged when she invites one of her students to move into their home, so he can escape his violent father. Initially, it seems the son is suffering from a severe case of Oedipus complex, but as the film progresses, a more shocking tale of abuse of power and sexual dynamics begins to unfold.

Sue Prado (Barber’s Tales) plays the mother, with Kokoy de Santos (Gameboys) playing the son, and Elora Españo and Miggy Jimenez rounding out the cast. Lana, Perci Intalan and Ferdinand Lapuz produced the film through The IdeaFirst Company, Octobertrain Films, Quantum Films and Cineko Productions.

A giant spaceship crashed from outer space onto the stormy coast of a small Filipino island. That’s how the signal rock looks like. Like an Alien civilization, it also brought advanced technology to the remote piece of land, since the rock entails the only capability for the islanders to get cellphone reception.

“Signal Rock” is screening at the Udine Far East Film Festival

For Intoy, the “everybody’s darling” main character, this place is the only connection to his sister Vicky, who went to her husband’s homeland – Finland. In hopes of a better life, she committed herself to a foreigner, got a baby girl and was able to send money back home to her family. But her relationship breaks apart and a child custody lawsuit is underway. Via the bumpy cell phone connection, Intoy and Vicky try to find ways of getting her and the baby back to the Philippines.

A giant spaceship crashed from outer space onto the stormy coast of a small Filipino island. That’s how the signal rock looks like. Like an Alien civilization, it also brought advanced technology to the remote piece of land, since the rock entails the only capability for the islanders to get cellphone reception.

“Signal Rock” is screening at San Diego Asian Film Festival (Sdaff)

For Intoy, the “everybody’s darling” main character, this place is the only connection to his sister Vicky, who went to her husband’s homeland – Finland. In hopes of a better life, she committed herself to a foreigner, got a baby girl and was able to send money back home to her family. But her relationship breaks apart and a child custody lawsuit is underway. Via the bumpy cell phone connection, Intoy and Vicky try to find ways of getting her and the baby back to the Philippines.