Upon his father’s death, Florante, a classically trained guitarist returns to the Philippines after 12 years of absence. During his stay he rediscovers the music of harana – a long-forgotten tradition of Filipino serenading when men sang under the window at night to fearlessly declare their love for a woman.
Florante travels to the remote provinces where he discovers three of the last surviving practitioners. Astounded by their golden voices, Florante asks them to travel with him to perform and record these unheralded songs. Word soon spread around Manila of humble men whose untrained but expressive singing touch the hearts everywhere they performed – culminating in a triumphant concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
But the question remains – can harana be restored to its former glory or is it doomed to vanish silently into the night forever?
AWARDS / OFFICIAL SELECTION
• Audience Award Winner, Hawaii International Film Festival 2012
• Audience Award Winner, San Diego Asian American Film Festival Spring Showcase 2013
• Audience Award Winner, San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival 2013
• Audience Award Winner San Francisco, New Filipino Cinema 2013 Yerba Buena Film Series
• Award Winner, Best Documentary, Gawad Urian, Philippines 2013
• Best Cinematography, Honorable Mention, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2013
• Busan International Film Festival, 2012
• Santa Barbara International Film Festival, 2013
• Seattle International Film Festival, 2013
• Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, 2013
• Cinema Chicago/Chicago International FIlm Festival, 2013
• Melbourne International Film Festival, 2013
• Dubai International Film Festival, 2012
• Asian American International Film Festival New York, 2013
• Pacific Rim International Film Festival 2013, Santa Cruz, CA
• Tacoma International Film Festival, 2013
• Richmond International Film & Media Arts Festival, British Columbia Canada, 2013
• Cinemanila International Film Festival, 2012
• Cinemalaya International Film Festival, 2012
