Movie veteran Charo Santos-Concio in Toronto for TIFF

Movie veteran Charo Santos-Concio in Toronto for TIFF

Charo Santos in Ang Babaeng Humayo

By Rachelle Cruz

ABS-CBN’s Chief Content Officer and screen veteran, Charo Santos-Concio, the lead star in Lav Diaz’s film “Ang Babaeng Humayo” (The Woman Who Left), landed in Toronto, on Sunday (Sept. 11) fresh from the film’s big win in an international film fest in Venice. This is her remarkable return to film after almost two decades.

She was met with hugs and flowers from Filipino-Canadians waiting to see her at the Pearson International Airport. She is here for the film’s North American Premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival. Her visit is also part Maalaala Mo Kaya’s 25th Anniversary World Tour that kicked off in Madrid, followed by Hong Kong, and now, Toronto.

“Ang Babaeng Humayo” won the prestigious Golden Lion Award for Best Film at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival. It is the highest honour given at the festival. It is the only film from Asia among the other 55 entries. The film is about Horacia (Santos), a woman imprisoned for decades for a crime she didn’t commit and is out to exact revenge.  The film is 228 minutes long, in black and white, and entirely shot in Calapan, Mindoro – the hometown of Santos-Concio.

“Very appreciative yung crowd, and I think they were really moved by the journey of Horacia, my character. Si Horacia, kasi yung kwento niya, kwento ng courage, kwento ng resilience, yung pinagdadaan natin na mga pagsubok everyday…” she said of the standing ovation that it received during its debut in Venice.

We asked how she felt about winning the prestigious award.

“Syempre nakaka-proud, nakakatuwa, and I’m very very happy for Lav Diaz, he really deserves this. Noong nag-usap kami ng Marso, sabi namin gagawa lang kami ng pelikula, we’re just gonna have fun. But this is more than just having fun. This is a great adventure and really a most unforgettable moment,” she said.

Charo Santos with the author

Further she admitted that she wanted to work with Director Diaz,

“I was already drawn to the character and her journey towards transcending human nature, so I thought I wanted to do something different, ma-iba naman. When everyone is expecting me to do a mainstream movie, I thought, ‘why not do a small movie?'”

She is hoping that Filipinos back home will also see the movie once it’s out in theatres.

“Ang hangad ko talaga na mapanood ito sa Pilipinas, alam no naman mga pelikula ni Lav run for three- four hours, yung Hele niya ran for 8 hours or so. Iba ang aesthetics ni Lav Diaz behind the cinema. However, napakaganda ng pelikula eto, if I may say so myself, at sana tangkilikin eto ng mga kababayan natin.” she expressed.

Ang Babaeng Humayo is screening across select theatres in Toronto until September 18. The movie also stars John Lloyd Cruz, Michael de Mesa, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Nonie Buencamino, Marj Lorico, Mayen Estanero, Romelyn Sale, Lao Rodriguez, Jean Judith Javier, Mae Paner and Kakai Bautista.

Selfie with fans at Pearson International Airport in Toronto