When The Waves Are Gone

Back in Venice after his Golden Lion win, Lav Diaz presents his long awaited When The Waves Are Gone, shot in 16mm black and white film.

“Lieutenant Hermes Papauran, one of the best investigators of the Philippines, is in a deep moral crossroad. As a member of the police forces, he is a first-hand witness of the murderous anti-drug campaign that his institution is implementing with dedication. The atrocities are corroding Hermes physically and spiritually, causing him a severe skin disease resulting from anxiety and guilt. As he tries to heal, a dark past haunts him and has eventually come back for a reckoning.”

The sine olivia pilipinas film is produced by Bianca Balbuena & Bradley Liew of Epicmedia (Philippines), Jean Christophe Simon of Films Boutique (France), Olivier Pere and Remi Burah of ARTE (France), Joaquim Sapinho and Marta Alves of Rosa Filmes (Portugal), co-produced by Mikkel Jersin, Katrin Pors, Eva Jakobsen of Snowglobe Film (Denmark), with Executive Producer Jeremiah Oh and Kang Xin Ying of Tier Pictures (Singapore) and associates Pierre Yvez Bezat, Hazel Orencio and Patti Lapus.

The film is supported by Aide aux cinemas du monde, ARTE France, ARTE France Cinema, Film Philippines International Co-Production Fund of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Fundo De Apoio Ao Turismo e ao Cinema, ICA Portugal, Purin Pictures, World Cinema Fund Europe, Hong Kong Film Financing Forum, Paris Co-Production Village.

World Premiere

Venice Film Festival 2022, Out Of Competition