In line with the 30th anniversary of Himala (Miracle) that was directed by the late National Artist Ishmael Bernal in 1982 and written Ricky Lee, the film that featured the superstar Nora Aunor and also gave her a best actress award in the 1982 Metro Manila Film Festival will be coming back on the big screen starting December 5, 2012. Himala is one of the films that reach various international film festivals including the Berlin International Film Festival where it became the first Filipino film to be included in the competition section. Aside from that it received Bronze Hugo Award at the 19th Chicago Film Festival and Asia-Pacific Film Festival Special Achievement for Best Depiction of Socially Involved Religion in the same year (1983). And last 2008 Himala receives the award as the Best Asian-Pacific Movie of All Time at the CNN APSA Viewers Choice Award.
Being it is one of the best Filipino films of all time that was crafted with passion and creativity of Bernal, Lee and Aunor; ABS-CBN together with the Central Digital Lab they restored the film and made it HD (High Definition) to make it clearer and fit in the cinema where it will be shown. The restored film of Himala was first previewed at the 69th Venice Film Festival and starting on December 5 Star Cinema will be distributing the film in selected cinemas nationwide.
Himala follows the story of Elsa (Aunor) who lives in a small town named Cupang who allegedly receives a vision from Blessed Virgin Mary in the barren hill where she was found by her adopted mother Aling Saling (Vangie Labalan) when she was a baby. The apparition that she claims that happened to her took place during a solar eclipse. Believing that their town is cursed and the vision was a sign of second chance for everyone, Elsa started faith healing to the local resident of Cupang and later people outside their town joins the pilgrimage hoping to be cured and get answers from their problem.
Elsa became popular not only in Cupang but also in other places that why Orly (Spanky Manikan), a filmmaker gains interest with her story and wanting to do a documentary about her vision and healing activity. Instead of seeing a miracle, Orly met Nimia (Gigi Duenas) one of Elsa’s childhood friends who is now a prostitute revealed their family story after being threatened that club where she is working was ordered by Elsa together with her seven apostles that include Chayong (Laura Centeno) and Sepa (Ama Quiambao). Aside from that hoping to capture an apparition between Elsa and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Orly captured a video of Elsa and Chayong being sexually assaulted by two drugged youths from Manila. Still Elsa despite of vague miracles and visions she was still proclaimed as a saint in the eyes of those who believes in her.
Discover a great story that tackles about faith, truth and lies as Star Cinema brings back a Bernal masterpiece on the big screen and we can all say the famous line of Elsa “Walang himala!! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao, nasa puso nating lahat! Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga himala! Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga sumpa at ng mga diyos…” (There is no miracle!! The miracles are in people’s hearts, in all our hearts! We make the miracles! We are the ones who make curses, gods…)
