What Isn’t There (Ang Nawawala)
In this lyrical exploration of love, music and expression, a self-imposed mute returns home for Christmas and the anniversary of his twin brother’s accidental death.
“Best Narrative Feature” Nominee, Slamdance Film Festival
“Audience Choice” Award, Cinemalaya Film Festival
“Best Original Score” Award, Cinemalaya Film Festival
“Best Film,” Rappler Social Media Awards
“Best Production Design,” Adobo Design Awards
“Best Actor” Nominee, Philippine Film Critics Gawad Urian Awards
“Best Supporting Actress” Nominee, Philippine Film Critics Gawad Urian Awards
“Best Cinematography” Nominee, Philippine Film Critics Gawad Urian Awards
“Best Editing” Nominee, Philippine Film Critics Gawad Urian Awards
“Best Music” Nominee, Philippine Film Critics Gawad Urian Awards
Production Grant, Cinemalaya Film Festival
Post-Production Grant, National Commission for Culture and the Arts
“The 2010s: Top 10 Filipino Films of the Decade” Metro Style Magazine
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Slamdance Film Festival
Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival
Luang Prabang Film Festival (Laos)
Durango Film Festival
South East Asian Arts Fest (London)
AMFM Fest
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
South East Asian Film Festival (Singapore)
ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards (Indonesia)
Adelaide Fringe Arts Festival (Australia)
IN EXHIBITION
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco)
National Film & Sound Archive (Australia)
Berrangasse Museum (Zurich)
Film Development Council of the Philippines
Kino Moviemento (Berlin)
"At first you might not notice that What Isn’t There is a drama. You might be too busy enjoying its lushness. Like a Polaroid of the teenage Manila night scene, a dream of romance, music and parents who just don’t understand, watching is as much a visual experience as a narrative one. Bright, instant and mesmerizing, one of the beauties of this film is that, while specific and full of delicious details about its world, it is also familiar. Here is the whimsy of troubled youth. Here is the first love we all wish we had, the pumping energy of spotting the right one across the room and laughing as the records drop and scratch. But with all of that, it is also a carefully drawn drama. What Isn’t There is the story of a young man, Gibson, the endearing Dominic Roco, who chooses not to speak after witnessing the death of his brother. After years away from his family he comes home to the Philippines and discovers them as unable to let go of the past as he has been. He finds a voice in music and in longing for the love of Enid, Annicka Dolonius, a refreshing and irresistible ingénue. Eventually he makes his way to a more personal truth. Beautiful, fun and memorable, director Marie Jamora’s first film is one not to be missed.”
— Mo Perkins, writer-director, Slamdance programmer
“Plastered wall to wall with incredible music—most of which was recorded live for the film— WHAT ISN’T THERE has an array of fun, humorous moments and beautiful visual imagery.”
— Slug Magazine
“Marie Jamora and co-writer Ramon De Veyra has carefully conjured a coming-of-age tale that withdraws from the traditions of the genre. Instead of the raging hormones of burgeoning maturity or the delightful impulses of first love, ANG NAWAWALA (WHAT ISN’T THERE) maps the redemption of lost years spent making sense of a childhood trauma that resulted in the most enduring of heartaches.”
— Twitch Film
“This is what sets this movie apart, its ability to crawl under your skin and stay with you long after the credits have ended.”
— The Philippine Star
“With a young protagonist who’s in self-imposed silence, this was both a coming-of-age story and a family drama that carried so much resonance, and captured the pulse of today’s youth and the music scene.”
— Metro Style
“It is a movie made up of the small moments that mean so much, the pregnant pauses and meaningful silences that fill up so much of our lives. It is all strangely unfamiliar… It pulls this off with style to spare, pointing at a world full of strange wonder, good music, and loves yet to be found.”