187 mins, Black and white

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SYNOPSIS

What drives a man to search for the truth? In the case of Lt. Hermes Papauran, who is arguably the greatest Filipino investigator, when asked, he says dejectedly that maybe he just wants to keep inflicting pain on himself. With such an ambiguous statement, he may have provided the greatest answer to the proverbial question. To search for the truth is all about pain. Faced with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody murders and brazen lies, Lt. Papauran continues his struggle to find resolution to a fifteen-year-old case around a volcanic ash laden landscape and an impenetrable lake. It has become a cross he can barely carry but keeps lugging anyway. His survival then is in perpetuating the pain.

•John Lloyd Cruz as Hermes Papauran

•Shaina Magdayao as Esmeralda Stuart

•Hazel Orencio as Jane Liway

•Bart Guingona as Jack Barquero

•Agot Isidro as Colonel

•Susan Africa as Aling Melchora

CREW

Director/Writer/Cinematographer/Editor/Producer

Lav Diaz

Cinematographers

Larry Manda/Lav Diaz

Production Manager/Assistant Director

Hazel Orencio

Assistant Production Managers

Sanny Joaquin/Ana Kristine Magnaye

Sound Recordist

Cecil Buban

Make-up Artist

Abby Lagarico

Art Director

Allen Alzola

Wardrobe

Tetai Roldan/Maja Desuasido/

Ahmed Maulana/Carl Tanseco/Angelica Shivers/Erlyn Medalle

Assistant Cameraman
Joel Bondoc

Grip/Gaffer

Neil Alvin Delas Alas

Marvin Malayao

Carlos Guevarra

Jesus Vitug

Utility

Jay-R Escandor

STILLS

REVIEWS

Clarence Tsui, “Essential Truths of the Lake”, Filmverdict.com

Giampierro Raganelli, “Essential Truths of the Lake”, Quinlan.it

Meredith Taylor, “Essential Truths of the Lake (2023) Locarno Film Festival 2023”, filmuforia.com

Gregory Coutaut, “Review: Essential Truths of the Lake”, lepolyester.com

Noel Vera, “Lade of the Lake”, bworldonline.com

Le Baltar, “‘Essential Truths of the Lake’ review: Into the depths of endless questions of how”, Rappler

Juaniyo Arcellana, “Essential Truths, Unspeakable Grace”, Philstar

Giorgia Del Don, “Review: Essential Truths of the Lake”, Cineuropa.org

Stephan Gobbo, “Essential Truths of the Lake, The Endless Investigation”, LeTemps.ch

Fabrizio Croce, “Locarno Film Festival: Essential Truths of the Lake by Lav Diaz (Competition)”, Close-up.info

“Lav Diaz talks about Duterte’s atrocities”, ansa.it

Nicole Bianchi, “Lav Diaz: “In the Philippines the system’s ignorance of culture protects artists”, Cinecittanews.it

Jorge Mourinha, “In Locarno, autopilots and forward escapes”, publico.pt

Ali Ercivan, “Locarno 2023 review: Essential Truths of the Lake (Lav Diaz)”, icsfilm.org

Diego Lerer, “Festival de Locarno 2023: crítica de «Essential Truths of the Lake», de Lav Diaz (Competencia)”, micropsiacine.com

Ugo Brusaporco, “A Long Weekend of Cinema”, laregione.ch

Diego Batlle, “Review of “Essential Truths of the Lake”, by Lav Diaz (International Competition) – #Locarno2023, otroscines.com

Irene Genhart, “First impressions of the 76th Locarno Film Festival (August 2-12, 2023)”, filmdienst.de

Edmée Cuttat, “Locarno Festival: Filipino Lav Diaz and Romanian Radu Jude, marathon runners in the competition”, leblogdedmee.blogspirit.com

Jonas Nestroy, “Essential Truths of the Lake – In Locarno Fever”, critic.de

INTERVIEWS

Giorgio Amadori, “Essential Truths of the Lake: Meeting with Lav Diaz and the cast”, sentieriselvaggi.it

RAI TV, Locarno Day 5

DISTRIBUTION

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