A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery

A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery is a 2016 Tagalog-language historical fantasy drama film directed by Lav Diaz. A co-production between the Philippines and Singapore, it was selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. At the film festival, it won the Alfred Bauer Prize. The film was released on 26 March and was distributed by Star Cinema.

Cast

John Lloyd Cruz as Isagani
Piolo Pascual as Simoun / Crisostomo Ibarra
Hazel Orencio as Gregoria 'Oryang' De Jesus
Alessandra De Rossi as Ceasaria Belarmino
Susan Africa as Aling Hule
Joel Saracho as Mang Karyo
Bernardo Bernardo as Lalake / Tikbalang
Cherie Gil as Babae / Tikbalang
Angel Aquino as Androgynous / Tikbalang
Sid Lucero as Basilio
Ely Buendia as Musikero
Bart Guingona as Kapitan Heneral
Kuya Manzano as Padre Camorra
Menggie Cobarrubias as Padre Florentino
Ronnie Lazaro as Sebastian Caneo

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with criticism mostly directed towards its pacing and confusing narrative. Guy Lodge of Variety states in his review that "A major disappointment from a major filmmaker, Diaz's latest super-sized tapestry of historical fact, folklore and cine-poetry is typically ambitious in its expressionism—but sees the helmer venturing into the kind of declamatory, didactic rhetoric that his recent stunners Norte, the End of History and From What Is Before so elegantly avoided."