Fresh off their box-office hit “Mallari” (2023), Mentorque Productions is back, this time joining forces with Project 8 Projects’ who aced last year’s Cinemalaya with tons of awards, they’re set to steal the spotlight with “Kono Basho.” But will ‘Kono Basho’ be a Cinemalaya contender or merely a matinee daydream?

Kono Basho’s Winning Hand

Building on two production houses’ stellar track records, “Kono Basho” is primed to impress audiences with its unique storyline and noteworthy cinematography. The film, set to steal the spotlight at Cinemalaya 2024, not just tells a heartfelt story but also for its rich cultural and emotional impact.

“Kono Basho ” follows estranged half-sisters Ella (Gabby Padilla) and Reina (Arisa Nakano), who find themselves reunited at their father’s funeral in Rikuzentakata, Japan. With their shared grief and tangled cultural identities, they witness the city’s inspiring recovery from the 2011 tsunami.

As they go on, their personal healing intertwines with Rikuzentakata’s revival. They navigate their emotional baggage, weather family storms, and confront past traumas that forever reshape their relationship.

The Origins of Kono Basho

“Seeing Rikuzentakata rebuild and reform after the disaster for several years is what drew me in writing Kono Basho. The hope amidst loss and pain is such an inspiration,” the director, Jaime Pacena shares.

Drawing inspiration from Jaime Pacena’s time spent in Rikuzentakata, Japan, a city devastated by the 2011 tsunami, he reflects on his thirteen years of archival photographs and videos. This theme of remnants and memories permeates the film. Inspired by his older sisters, he painted a cinematic portrait of family, culture, and the complexities of human connection, “’Kono Basho’ for me is a warm hug that you might not want but actually needed,” he adds.

Reality’s Sneak Peek

Gabby Padilla, who shares the spotlight with Arisa Nakano, the Japanese actress who made waves in the Oscar-nominated film Perfect Days. Having lived in Japan, the disaster in Rikuzentakata resonated deeply with her. With heartfelt sentiment, she hopes Filipino audiences get a taste of that reality through this film, promising to hit heartstrings on full blast. 

Following Mentorque Productions’ Executive Producer Bryan Dy’s commitment to support filmmakers who put their heart into their stories, Dy attempts to make the audience feel the warmth and solace that “Kono Basho” offers. Yet, beneath its comforting facade, does this haven truly offer lasting warmth and solace, or might it get both fleeting respite and unexpected challenges?

Kono Basho, an official entry in this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival, gently whispers that grief arrives in waves, but fear not, for you don’t need to navigate those tempests alone.

Written by | Christine Grace Castro