Philippines10 Essential Filipino FilmsStop 8 of 10

From What Is Before

Name: From What Is Before
Genre: Drama
Released: 2014
Duration: 345 min

Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon

2014 · 345 min · Drama

In a remote barrio in 1972, on the eve of Ferdinand Marcos's declaration of martial law, unexplained horrors begin to plague a rural community. Lav Diaz's sprawling, hypnotic black-and-white epic about a nation on the brink of dictatorship.

Runtime: 345 min
Genre: Drama
Mood: thoughtful · dark · uplifting
Entry: challenging
Best for: character-driven drama

Content notes: war or political violence Non-exhaustive

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Part of 10 Essential Filipino Films

This film is stop 8 of 10 in the hand-ranked native-cinema route through Philippines. See the complete ranking or read the selection methodology.

Watching this film stamps Philippines in the 196 country film challenge.