Ruined Heart! Another Love Story Between a Criminal and a Whore

Ruined Heart! Another Love Story Between a Criminal and a Whore
Directed byKhavn
Written byKhavn
Produced byKhavn
Fe Virtudazo-Hyde
Achinette Villamor
StarringIan Lomongo
Cara Eriguel
CinematographyAlbert Banzon
Edited byLawrence S. Ang
Music byArvie Bartolome
Fando & Lis
Angus Lorenzo
Steven Chua
Production
company
Release date
  • February 11, 2012 (2012-02-11) (Berlinale)
Running time
15 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageTagalog

Ruined Heart! Another Love Story Between a Criminal and a Whore is a 2012 Filipino short film written and directed by independent filmmaker Khavn De La Cruz.[1] It is the first Philippine entry to be officially selected in the International Competition of the short film section of the Berlin International Film Festival. It competed at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.[2]

The film's original title is in Tagalog: Pusong Wazak! Isa Na Namang Kwento Ng Pag-ibig Sa Pagitan Ng Isang Kriminal At Isang Puta. At the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, however, it was given the German title Zerstörtes Herz!.

Ruined Heart! is the classic love story between a gangster and a prostitute, but Khavn "deconstructs this often recounted tale to explore in fleeting images the likelihood of dying too early from the violence so omnipresent in the Philippines today".[3]

Production

Ruined Heart! was filmed in 24 hours, in six different places in Metro Manila. The main location was the filmmaker's residence in Kamias Road. Other locations include the walled city, Intramuros; a bar in Marikina; a rooftop near Roxas Boulevard; a slum in Cambridge Street; and a vacant lot in Quezon City.

Khavn, considered the father of digital filmmaking in the Philippines,[citation needed] is well known for his guerilla tactics: he shoots very fast with a very small crew. He explains that while more demanding on himself and on his crew, this shooting style is both practical and efficient because:

The longer it takes to make a film, the more expensive it is so I keep my shoots short and sweet. It has to do with energy, too. Like improvisational music played on the piano: you have this moment to create something right then and there, you just follow the beat. It’s the idea of “best thought, first thought.” The best take is the first take. All the “mistakes” ultimately become part of the piece, the set design. You allow the world into your films.[4]

Awards

Year Film Festival/Award Result Category/Recipient
2012 Golden Bear, Berlin International Film Festival Nominated Best Short Film

References

  1. ^ "Khavn De La Cruz". Rotterdam.
  2. ^ "Berlinale Shorts". Berlin Film Festival. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
  3. ^ ""Say Goodbye to the Story": Leitmotif of the Berlinale Shorts". Berlin Film Festival. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
  4. ^ "Street Food: Khavn de la Cruz". BOMBlog. Retrieved 2010-09-29.