Ben Madilynn
Janine Gutierrez is in Venice, Italy for the screening of her latest movie Phantosmia at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.
Critically acclaimed director Lav Diaz directs the four-hour movie.
On Instagram, Janine shares photos and videos of herself enjoying the scenery while riding a water taxi—known as “vaporetto” to locals—and snapshots of the festival venue.
Photo/s: Janine Gutierrez (Instagram)
The Kapamilya actress also reveals that she shared a car ride with two other women attendees—a “French VR specialist” and a “Ukrainian director.”
Photo/s: Janine Gutierrez (Instagram)
This year’s Venice International Film Festival runs from August 28 to September 7.
ON MAKING Phantosmia
Janine’s excitement was palpable in the days leading up to her departure for Italy.
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during her launch as the brand ambassador for Kairos Health Medical Group, the Lavender Fields star couldn’t hide her joy while discussing the movie and its participation in the festival.
“Super excited ako! Kasi pangarap ko talaga na makapunta sa mga world renowned international film fest with our Filipino films. Para maipakita din sa mga tao [kung] ano ba yung mga talagang kuwento natin dito,” Janine beamed.
The movie’s title is derived from a medical condition known as olfactory hallucination or phantom odor, where a person smells odors that aren’t actually present.
Experts identify various causes of phantosmia, including upper respiratory infections, head injuries, aging, brain tumors, and Parkinson’s disease, among others.
Janine refrained from revealing too much about the plot, only saying that Ronnie Lazaro plays a former military officer afflicted with phantosmia and haunted by his past.
The movie was filmed in Sampaloc, Quezon, with a small crew from December 2023 to January 2024.
Photo/s: Janine Gutierrez (Instagram)
Janine recalled, “Very isolated yung lugar. Umaakyat kami ng mga maliliit na bundok para makarating kami sa mga set namin.
“So, masaya siya kasi parang ramdam na ramdam mo din yung character at yung isolation ng kuwento at yung pagkasimple ng buhay.”
WORKING WITH LAV DIAZ
Phantosmia is Janine’s second time working with Lav Diaz.
However, their first project, Kawalan, is still in post-production with no definite release date at this time.
“Ito [Phantosmia] yung unang ilalabas. So, by the time that I started this, alam ko na yung proseso ni Direk Lav.”
Photo/s: debe75 (Instagram)
She elaborated further on Lav’s unique style as a director: “Actually, yung mga film kasi ni Direk Lav, medyo brief description lang talaga ang malalaman mo bago ka mag-shoot.
“Day by day, doon mari-reveal sa yo yung character.”
But doesn’t this make preparing for the role even more challenging?
“Wala ka masyadong magagawang preparation, e,” smiled Janine.
“Parang on the set na lang. Na kung ano man yung paliwanag ni Direk, or based on the script, which we got then, like, on a daily basis.
“Parang yung preparation lang talaga, openness, tsaka tiwala, tsaka enjoy lang.”
Phantosmia is scheduled to screen at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2024.
This marks Lav’s eighth participation in the festival, with four awards to his name, including Horizons’ Best Film award for Melancholia (2008) and Horizons’ Best Director award for Genus, Pan (2020).
