Directed by Lino Brocka
Cast: Nora Aunor, Philip Salvador, Marissa Delgado, Rustica Carpio
Writer: Cenen Ramones
Cinematographer: Condrado Baltazar
Produced by: NV Productions
Fanaticism rules much of Philippine politics, religion--and cinema. Representing millions of movie fans like her, Bona (Nora Aunor) subordinates her own personal ambitions to become a movie actor's factotum. She moves into his squatter shack and works like a slave, getting nothing in return except to be in the mesmerizing presence of her screen god. In the end, her illussions get punctured and she works up a rage equal to her sacrifices. Nora Aunor delivers one of her award-winning performances in this movie.
by Nestor U. Torre
More blog postings on Bona:
Willi Pascual
Michael Obenieta
Bona was one of Nora's two entries to the 1980 Metro Manila Film Festival. The other was Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo directed by Laurice Guillen. It's not unusual for her to have two movies in the festival. In 1979, she was in Ina Ka ng Anak Mo and Kasal-kasalan, Bahay-bahayan; in 1978, she was in Atsay and Jack N Jill of the Third Kind with Dolphy. In both instances, a drama movie and a comedy movie. A pretty good strategy since the comedy film will top the box-office and the drama will win awards. With the 1980 filmfest, Nora was in two dramas by respected directors - Brocka for Bona and Laurice Guillen for Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo, her next movie after her highly praised directorial debut Kasal.
With Nora's triumphs from the past two years, I was expecting her to win the Best Actress award once again. Vilma Santos' entry was Langis at Tubig directed by Danny Zialcita. But everyone was blown away by the movie Brutal directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. Amy Austria won the Best Actress award that year.
Bona was shown at the Cannes Filmfest as an entry to the Director's Fortnight. Nora won the Urian Best Actress award for Bona but she had to share it with Gina Alajar who was also recognized for her performance in Brutal.