Himala

Starring superstar Nora Aunor, Himala is the story of Elsa, a young woman whose visions of the Virgin Mary create hysteria in a poor, isolated village. Why are we starting a series called New Filipino Cinema with a film from 1982? First, Himala is unquestionably a masterpiece by one of the Philippines’ greatest directors, yet it remains unknown to most Western audiences. And the film is, in fact, “new” because it’s been digitally restored by ABS-CBN Film Archives from original master materials. Also, film restoration is itself a relatively new concept in the Philippines; countless important works from Filipino film history are in poor condition or have already been lost. Don’t miss this rare opportunity. (1982, 122 min)