Philippines auteur Brillante Mendoza‘s film “Pula” has set a world premiere on Netflix.
The narrative unfolds in the devoutly Catholic town of Pula and examines themes of faith, fanaticism, and vigilante justice.
In the film, the tranquil life of Senior Master Sergeant Danilo Faraon (Coco Martin) and his family get upended by a tragic event that shakes the foundations of their close-knit community. A teenage girl’s murder propels Faraon into a vortex of deception, betrayal and guilt, leading him down a path of retribution against those he perceives to have wronged him and the townsfolk of Pula.
The cast also includes Julia Montes, Raymart Santiago, Lotlot De Leon, Alan Paule, Elizabeth Oropesa, Christine Bermas, Ina Alegre and Vince Rillon.
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Mendoza, who won best director at Cannes in 2009 for “Kinatay,” is a festival regular and continues to explore societal issues via his films.
“The premiere of ‘Pula’ on Netflix marks a moment of profound gratitude for me. It transcends
accolades and recognition, offering the chance to connect with a global audience. Normally,
after my film is showcased at prestigious festivals worldwide, people are having a hard time
finding where to watch my films. Now, Netflix provides a platform for the film’s story to touch
hearts across the globe. My deepest satisfaction as a filmmaker comes from the knowledge that
diverse audiences embrace my work. I hope that viewers not only enjoy ‘Pula’ but also discover
a reflection of themselves in its story,” Mendoza said.
“‘Pula’ is my reunion project with Coco Martin after almost 14 years. Coco did a small part in ‘Captive’ with Isabel Huppert that was in Berlin in competition in 2012.What I really like about my collaborations withCoco is his passion, commitment and respect not onlyto his craft but also to his co-workers. It’s always a joy to work with an artist like Coco,” Mendoza added.
Sales on “Pula” are handled by Philippines-based global outfit Fire and Ice Sales. CEO Liza Dino said:
“We are proud to represent Brillante Mendoza’s collection of films and find Netflix as a partner to
bring his compelling and gripping films to the world. Brillante is a household name in the A-list
film festival world, and he has put the Philippines on the map because of his accolades. But his
films are finding a platform on Netflix, which is an opportunity for a wider audience to see these
important masterpieces of Philippines cinema.”
“Pula” streams from May 3 in the Asia Pacific region exclusively on Netflix.
