A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery

Real-life revolutionaries, literary traitors and mythical forest spirits cross paths in Laz Diaz’s masterwork set during the smoky nights of revolution-era Philippines.

The nineteenth century is coming to a close, and revolution is in the air.

Under Spanish colonial rule, Filipino nationalist poet José Rizal is executed, but instead of quelling whispers of rebellion, his death invigorates the revolutionary movement. As the Filipino revolution gains momentum, three figures – some real, others imagined – embark on dangerous journeys. Among them is Gregoria de Jesus (Hazel Orenci), a revolutionary in her own right whose husband has been taken prisoner.

Curator’s note
Banned in the Philippines, José Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tángere was incendiary upon its underground publication. Its scathing critique of the ruling class helped stoke the flames of revolution, and Rizal’s execution added fuel to the fire. Featuring real-life revolutionaries alongside characters from Noli Me Tángere (and its sequel El filibusterismo), A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery weaves the factual with the fantastical to build a dreamlike vision of a nation in upheaval.

Running at over eight hours, the film unfolds slowly and drifts toward the surreal, prioritising mood over narrative. Yet a strong narrative thread remains, acting as a lure that draws the audience deeper into its dreamlike world.