BONA

HIFF is proud to show a digitally restored version of a historic piece of brutal social realism that was nearly lost due to neglect. A pioneer of Philippines cinema whose work was recognized early on by the festival, director Lino Brocka gave popular actor/entertainer Nora Aunor her most challenging role to date back in 1981, playing a starstruck girl named Bona who drops out of high school to live with and take care of a bit actor who treats her like his personal servant, but offers no complaint. As the first Philippines superstar to not embody Western standards of beauty, Aunor, then aged 28, was adored by the working-class from which she came. The role challenged her stardom by stripping away her character’s societal status as Bona gives up everything in pursuit of her unworthy idol.