The heart of Rome glowed with pride last Friday, November 7, as “Come la Notte” (“Where the Night Stands Still”) premiered at the 31st MedFilm Festival at the Space Cinema. The Filipino-Italian masterpiece, directed by Liryc Dela Cruz, moved audiences with its haunting beauty and emotional depth.
Dela Cruz, a Rome-based Filipino filmmaker, is known for his poetic lens on migration, memory, and identity. His debut full-length feature stars Benjamine Barcellano, Jenny Caringal, and Tess Magallanes — all delivering performances that felt raw, honest, and deeply human.
At its core, “Come la Notte” is a story about family, longing, and the quiet pain of Filipino migrants in Europe. The film follows three siblings — Lilia, Manny, and Rosa — domestic helpers in Italy who reunite in a villa left to Lilia by her late employer. What begins as a reunion slowly unravels into an emotional reckoning, reopening old wounds and testing the fragile ties that bind them as siblings and as Filipinos far from home.
Drawing inspiration from Dostoevsky’s philosophical depth and Shakespeare’s tragedy “King Lear”, Dela Cruz describes his work as an exploration of fate, loss, and the contradictions of life.
“It’s an Italian film, but it carries the voices of those living and contributing here. It’s not just about the Filipino experience — it’s about the tragedy that can strike anyone, the luck that sometimes comes with a cost,” he shared.
Remarkably, the film was produced in just six days on an almost zero budget, yet it radiates with artistry, discipline, and vision — a true testament to passion over resources.
A Global Journey of Triumph
Since its debut at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival last February, “Come la Notte” has traveled the world — from Amsterdam and New York to Barcelona, Shanghai, and Bangkok — earning acclaim and awards along the way.
It won the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio Artistic Performance Award at the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen, and Dela Cruz took home Best Director at the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent section. The film also received a Special Mention at the Bellaria Film Festival’s Concorso Casa Rossa competition.
A Moment of Pride for Filipinos in Italy
The premiere in Rome drew emotional support from the Filipino community, including many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who saw their stories reflected onscreen.
“It’s not an easy film to watch,” said Romulo Salvador, a viewer. “It’s in black and white, with minimal dialogue — but it invites you to think, to feel. Liryc captured the complex relationships between OFW siblings in such a powerful, unconventional way.”
Cinema That Connects Cultures
The MedFilm Festival — Rome’s annual celebration of Mediterranean cinema — champions stories that unite cultures through art. With “Come la Notte”, it once again fulfilled that mission, shining a light on the shared human experience of love, loss, and belonging.
Through the stillness of its night, “Come la Notte” whispers a powerful truth: that even in distance, grief, and silence, the Filipino spirit endures — steady, strong, and beautifully human.
