Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors
| Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors | |
|---|---|
| Filipino | Makikiraan po |
| Directed by | Lav Diaz |
| Written by | Lav Diaz |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Lav Diaz |
| Edited by | Lav Diaz |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 147 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors (Filipino: Makikiraan po) is an upcoming Philippine historical drama film written, shot, edited and directed by Lav Diaz. Set in 1617 during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, it stars Bart Guingona, Ronnie Lazaro, Isabel Sandoval, Yul Servo, Christian Bables and Bong Cabrera.[1]
The film will have its world premiere out of competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on 11 September 2026.[1][2]
Plot
In 1617, a Spanish friar and encomendero, played by Bart Guingona, oversees the construction of a church in the Philippines while attempting to bring the native population under Catholic rule. He instructs his son Dungwen, played by Christian Bables, to supervise the transportation of limestone required for the church's construction, despite the possibility of attacks during the journey.[3]
The story is set against the forced construction of churches during the Spanish colonial period, when thousands of native Filipinos were compelled to provide labor. The film presents the surviving churches as reminders of colonial violence, religious conversion, plunder and suffering.[1][2]
Cast
- Bart Guingona as Padre Enciso, a Spanish friar and encomendero[3]
- Christian Bables as Dungwen
- Ronnie Lazaro as Himamat
- Isabel Sandoval as Babayeng Indimatandog
- Yul Servo as Baribari
- Bong Cabrera as Mang Tugis
- Rafa Siguion-Reyna as Higante
- Amado Arjay Babon as Diego
- Hazel Orencio
Production
The film was initially developed under the title Dungwen, after the character portrayed by Christian Bables.[3] It was produced by Bianca Balbuena and Montgomery Blencowe, with Lovi Poe serving as an executive producer through her company, C'est Lovi Productions. The other participating production companies were Epicmedia Productions and Diaz's Sine Olivia Pilipinas.[3][2]
Hazel Orencio, a frequent collaborator of Diaz, also worked as the film's line producer. The project marked the first collaboration between Diaz and both Bables and Isabel Sandoval. It was Yul Servo's first film role in approximately a decade and reunited him with Diaz, who had previously directed him in Batang West Side.[3]
Clocking 147 minutes, it's Diaz shortest feature film since 2011's Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution.
Release
Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors will premiere out of competition of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on 11 September 2026.[3][4]
References
- 1 2 3 "Makikiraan po (Let us through, dear ancestors)". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Lav Diaz's 'Makikiraan Po' to premiere at Venice Film Festival 2026". GMA News Online. July 25, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Purnell, Kristofer (July 24, 2026). "Lav Diaz returns to Venice film festival for surprise movie with Christian Bables, Yul Servo". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2026". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved July 26, 2026.