Trigger warning: depression, suicide
Ang About Us But Not About Us ay magkakaroon ng world premiere sa 2022 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival sa Estonia, isang bansa sa Northern Europe.
Ang pelikulang ito ay malapit sa puso ng writer at direktor na si Jun Lana, na umaming nakaranas ng matinding depresyon, pero itinuon niya ang atensiyon sa pagsusulat ng kuwento ng proyektong pinagbibidahan nina Romnick Sarmenta at Elijah Canlas.
Isang sikreto ang inilantad ni Lana sa pelikula: ang paulit-ulit na pang-aabuso sa kanya noong kabataan niya.
"My latest film About Us But Not About Us will have its world premiere at the Critics’ Picks competition section of the 2022 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
"In the past, I always try to think of my audience every time I make a film. Not with this one.
"My only goal was simply to save myself. I was going through a lot and was severely depressed to the brink of suicide. Ashamed to ask for help from anyone, I turned to the one thing that has always given me comfort: writing.
"For three straight days, I wrote without a break, remembering and acknowledging many traumas that stifled me much of my life, including being molested repeatedly as a child.
"Part fiction and part confessional, the film allowed me to expunge my demons, come to terms with my dark past, and take full control of my narrative.
"I want to thank my producer and best friend Perci Intalan for his support, understanding, and bravery in allowing this story to be told,” ang testimonya ni Lana na ibinahagi ang official poster ng bagong pelikula niya na nagpapakita sa mukha nila nina Romnick at Elijah.
Si Perci ay naging partner ni Jun sa loob ng 18 years. Inanunsiyo nila ang kanilang paghihiwalay noong December 10, 2021, pero nanatili silang magkaibigan.
Hindi maipagkakaila na nagtagumpay si Lana sa bagong proyekto dahil sa positive review sa About Us But Not About Us ng internationally established film curator na si Niki Nikitin.
"The world premiere of the Philippines title About Us But Not About Us is truly both an intellectual and a cinematographic pleasure at this year’s PÖFF [ Estonian: Tallinna Pimedate Ööde Filmfestival].
"Masterfully orchestrated—with only a small budget, the setting basically consisting of a table, two chairs, two persons talking, one mysterious manuscript and some little food in-between—this two-men drama reminds me of Robert Bresson’s famous words about filmmaking: Two types of films: those that employ the resources of the theatre (actors, direction, etc.) and use the camera in order to reproduce, and those that employ the resources of cinematography and use the camera to create. (Robert Bresson. “Notes on the Cinematograph”, New York Review of Books, 2016)
"Chapeaux and maraming salamat for this brilliant Philippines masterpiece that combines all crafts that filmmaking comprises,” ang papuri ni Nikitin sa pelikula ni Lana.
Ang depresyon ay seryosong usapin.
May mga organisasyong handang tumulong sa mga taong dumaraan sa ganitong kondisyon.
Katulad na lamang ng National Center for Mental Health na inilunsad ng Department of Health.
Maaari silang tawagan sa mga sumusunod na 24/7 hotline:
0917 899 8727 (USAP); at 989 8727 (USAP)