Mindanao

Saima takes care of her daughter Aisa, who is sick with cancer and is in a recovery centre in Davao, while she waits for her husband, Malang, a combat doctor, to return home after completing an operation in the province of Maguindanao. Saima knows that there are patients who overcome the disease and others who do not; Malang for his part has seen death on the battlefield. While waiting, Saima narrates the legend of Rajah and Sulayman, to keep hope alive, and to help her daughter and husband to escape death.

Brilliante Ma. Mendoza (1960), is one of the most internationally renowned Filipino filmmakers due to his prolific career. In 2009, he won Best Director for his film Kinatay at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2012, his film The Womb won two awards at the Venice Film Festival. With Mindanao, his latest film, Mendoza tries to bring us closer to the experience of death in Filipino culture.