Bona is a 1980 Filipinodrama film directed by Lino Brocka from a story and screenplay written by Cenen Ramones. Starring Nora Aunor as the title character, the film tells the story of a young girl infatuated with a bit actor, played by Phillip Salvador. Aunor also produced the film through her production company NV Productions.
After its initial release in 1980, the film remained largely unseen.[4] Amongst Philippine film circles, it was believed that the film was lost after negatives and prints were destroyed in a fire.[2]
The restoration of Bona was led by French distribution company Carlotta Films, headed by its CEO and co-founder Vincent Paul-Boncour, and Kani Releasing. In his search for an original copy, Paul-Boncour learned of original negatives that were stored with a Paris film lab following its original Cannes premiere. The discovery was initially made by film historian Jose B. Capino, during his research for a book on director Lino Brocka, after interviewing Cannes film scout Pierre Rissient. The film restoration was carried out at Cité de Mémoire, with sound restoration handled by L.E. Diapason.[2][5] In 2023, the first 20 minutes of the restoration was screened at the Marché du Film of Cannes.[2][6]
Bona has been considered as one of the Philippines' greatest movies. It was also cited as one of "The Best 100 Films in the World" by the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, USA in 1997 and has been screened in different film festivals around the world, albeit receiving mixed reviews.
In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Lawrence Van Gelder noted the film was interesting as a glimpse of Philippine life, but found fault in the directing and writing for failing to give valid explanations to the obsession.[8]
Barbara Wurm, Berlin- and Vienna-based film historian, critic, and programmer, described Philippine cinema's Superstar as "the awesome Nora Aunor", during the film's screening at the 47 Vienna International Film Festival in 2009.[9][10][11]
Upon the release of the restoration at the Cannes Classics, Bona received positive comments and reviews.[12]
Accolades
Year
Group
Category
Nominee
Result
1982
Figueira da Foz International Film Festival
Premio de le Juri de la Federacion Internationale des Cine Clubs (Jury Prize of the International Federation of Cinema Clubs)
In 2012, as part of its 45th season, the Philippine Educational Theater Association staged a contemporary adaptation written by Layeta Bucoy and directed by Socrates 'Soxie" Tapacio. Eugene Domingo played Bona, while EA Guzman played Gino Sanchez, the stage counterpart of the film's Gardo.[13]
