A film whose theme is inspired by the remnants of Davao’s Japanese heritage found in the small number of Japanese descendants or Nikkei-Jins living in the city. And with the lives of ‘Japinos’ or children born of mixed Japanese-Filipino parentage.
Set in the present-day Davao City, it revolves around Nikka, a Nikkei-Jin (Japanese descendant) and Hitoshi, a Japino (Japanese-Filipino) who meets up for an “eyeball” date. A seemingly ordinary day spent around the city unravels the converging paths of their friendship and the divergent twists of each other’s fate.
Stars
Jann Laurie Liz Tagud
Hiruko Osanai
Rk Arrieta
Ryan Leslie delos Reyes
Racine Pregunta
Luche Ong
Ching Amor
Francsico Villa-abrille
Photographers
Rudolf Ian Alama
Wrap Meting
Rolyn Pregunta
Video Documentation
Rolyn Pregunta
Subtitles
Bagane Fiola, Xiao Prieto, Aicha Amano, and Jesh Juson
Editing
Bagane Fiola
Music
Way to the Sunset OST by Samantah Jane Herero Gomez
Music
“Over” by Jad Montenegro
“Hello Goodbye” by Foursidedcircle
“Yamashita” by JC Gellidon of Excile Studios, Written & Performed by Hyku Desesto, Translated by Erika Cho
Cinematography
Mark Limbaga and Bagane Fiola
Boom Operator and Sound Design
Maki Serapio
Production Assistance
Wrap Meting, John Barredo, and Joel Sangalan
Production Design
Bagane Fiola
Costume and styling
Hyku Desesto
Make Up
Jann Laurie Liz Tagud
Dialogue Consultants
Lanie Vergara and Jann Laurie Liz Tagud
Script Supervisors
Rolyn Pregunta, Lanie Vergara, and Xiao Prieto
Casting
Pawlo Pascual and Carlo Refamonte
Translators
Karen Nakashima, Mia Nakano, and Lanie Vergara
Location Scouts
Bagane Fiola and Pawlo Pascual
Screenplay
Bagane Fiola and Rudolf Ian Alama
Producing and Directing
Bagane Fiola
Production Companies
Studiobugsy, Bouliccis Multimedia, Alchemy of Vision & Light Production, and Origane Films
Way to the Sunset was screened at the Cultural Centre of the Philippines Dream Theater as part of the Mindanao Films selection during the 2nd Cinema Rehiyon Film Festival in 2010
Screenings
Way to the Sunset was first showcased as an exhibition-film at the 5th Mindanao Film Festival last December 19-20, 2009. It was also screened in the annual Cinemarehiyon, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, as one of the four official 2010 delegates from Davao.
Special Thanks
Mr Rolando “Chiaw” Yap, Natsumi Ella Amano, Arnel Barbarona ,Sherad Anthony Sanchez, Lucille Marnelli, Roselle Jimeno, Jonah Taojo ,Haruka Maruyama, Bem De Lira, Debbie Karol Butay, Ryam Yap, Ferdinand Mesias, Niño Flores, Lucile Saniel, Allan Vergara, Sheika Abubakar, Kenth O’bajo, Willie Apa, Joel Sangalan, Janice Sevilla, Chico Pace, Alexandra Bautista, Jule Pudjor, Feyt Martinez, Lexie, the People of Davao City, and all support from our friends and family.
With support from
PhilaJames and Pinoy Takeout
The much talked about and, literally waited for film “Way to the Sunset” was superb. It was like tasting an unknown meal yet end up liking it. It made Davao a film-worthy location for future filmmakers. It was as if Akira Kurosawa took those brilliant shots! It also reminded me a lot of the film “Eyes Wide Shut” where shots where long yet truly justified by its beauty. It’s a great risk that was worth taking. I hope Bagane would continue to make more films not just to serve as a challenge, but more importantly to inspire fellow filmmakers. – Anna Rhieza Rallos, MFF 2009
Way to the Sunset, a Davao-made full length indie film debuts as an exhibition film during the 5th Mindanao Film Festival’s theatrical screening this December 19-20 at the Cinema 5 of the Gaisano Mall of Davao.
Written and directed by Jose Bagane Fiola, a Dabawenyo “noooob”, Way to the Sunset is inspired by Davao’s unique Japanese heritage. 95% of the film is in Nihonggo as the story deals between a Nikkei-Jin (Japanese descendant) and a Japinoy (children born of mixed Japanese and Filipino parentage).
Fiola says he was inspired by the film when they shot last year’s MFF best film Anod in Mintal, a known settlement of Japanese migrants in Davao in the early 1900s. “Near the shooting location was a ruins of an old Japanese hospital, I was curious why there was a Japanese hospital in Mintal. Then there in my curiosity I was exposed to the history of Japanese in Davao, in the early 1940s there were so many Japanese here in Davao that they called the city, ‘little Japan’.” Fiola recalled.
It was also through research that he uncovered the story of Nikkei-Jins or Japanese descendants, who because of their Japanese roots were able to migrate to Japan.
Set in present-day Davao City, it revolves around Nikka (Jann Lauree Liz Tagud), a nikkei-jin (Japanese descendant) and Hitoshi (Hiroku Osanai), a Japino (Japanese-Filipino) who meet up for an “eyeball” date. A seemingly ordinary day spent around the city unravels the convergent paths of their friendship and the divergent twists of each other’s fate.
Fiola says the Japanese theme makes the film unique among the different participating shorts and full lengths in the festival. Though we didnt really made it historical, the fact that the characters are Nikkei-Jins makes it one of the first locally-produced film in MFF to tackle such theme.
The actors playing the main roles Jann Laurie Liz Tagud and Hiroku Osanai are Nikkei-Jins in real-life. Jann traces her lineage to Okinawan migrants while Hiroku or Roks is of mixed Japanese-Filipino parentage.
Last year’s MFF guest exhibition film Concerto by Paul Alexander Morales also tackled Japanese migrant history in Davao. – Philippine Cinema Yahoo Group
After watching even the Trailer of “A Way to the Sunset”, I know this film is something to watch for. I have found interest in this Film not only because of its cinematographic approach but to its story as well. Its quite interesting since If we look back in Philippine History, we have quite a colorful history and this includes the Japanese Regime. I’m quite interested on how the Director, Bagane Fiola, approaches every scene. – I Like Art