Speaking to Martika Ramirez Escobar on a Saturday afternoon about her first feature film, Leonor Will Never Die. was a revelation. As an entry to the Melbourne International Film Festival, it ticked all the boxes. It was fun and uplifting, with just the right amount of drama. The seemingly lighthearted tone is underscored by existential questions prevalent throughout the film.
When asked what her inspiration was, Martika was quick to point out, ‘it was definitely the action films from the ’80s and ’90s, how action stars in the Philippines can have a cult following which propels them to the highest seat of power (referring to past President Erap Estrada and the failed Presidential bid of the Fernando Poe, Jr).’ Martika was fascinated by how the Filipino audience were quick to equate the heroic roles in the movies to being protagonists in real life.
She explores how ‘fiction and reality blur when Leonor, a retired film maker, falls into a coma after a television lands on her head, compelling her to become the action hero of her unfinished screenplay.
The concept to execution took years to complete. Being written by Martika herself, her goal was to have the audience reflect on their own lives. ‘I want them to think, to ask and look within themselves.’ Oftentimes movies are used as a way to escape the current reality. However, she seeks to reinvent the wheel. Offering an alternative commentary to the current state of play. She invites you to ponder, to go on your own journey of self reflection and self actualisation. The beauty of Leonor is due to the fact of not being shoved down your throat. Engagement is organic. The connection is palpable, with the audience being gradually pulled into the story as Leonor goes through one scene after another. It pays homage to Filipino action films of the 1970s and 80s.
‘It is a reflection of where I was in my life, and because this took eight years to complete, the project also evolved where I evolved.’ This can definitely be seen in every take as Martika continues to elevate Philippine cinema. The film itself meta. It crosses cultural borders and sets the stage for a new chapter for homegrown talent with accolades from the world of film. She is an exciting director viewing the world through her own lens.
It is Martika’s world, and we’re just living in it.
Follow Leonor Will Never Die on Facebook as it makes its round in the film circuit.
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