Norte, the End of History

Film Review by Philip Concannon | 14 Jul 2014
Film title: Norte, the End of History
Director: Lav Diaz
Starring: Sid Lucero, Angeli Bayani, Archie Alemania, Soliman Cruz
Release date: 18 Jul
Certificate: 18

Filipino director Lav Diaz has been working consistently since the late 1990s but, with most of his films running for anything up to nine hours, the relatively accessible Norte, the End of History will act as an introduction to his work for most UK viewers. What they will find in this slow-burning four-hour drama is a filmmaker in total command of his art.

The film unfolds in long, measured takes and every sequence is a masterclass in visual and aural composition. It is a film that gives us time for contemplation and ample space to fully immerse ourselves in his story. Whether or not that story entirely works is open to debate; what begins as a loose adaptation of Crime and Punishment takes some surprising and troubling turns, particularly in the climactic hour. But Norte, the End of History is a film worth grappling with. Patient and inquisitive viewers will surely find it a very rewarding experience, and one hopes it’s not the last Lav Diaz film to make its way to these shores. [Philip Concannon]