(From L-R) Actresses Lovi Poe, Nora Aunor, director Brillante Mendoza and actress Mercedes Cabral attend the premiere of the of the film ‘Sinapupunan' (Thy Womb) at the 69th edition of the Venice Film Festival. — APMANILA — In her hot pink terno, petite singer-actress Nora Aunor stood tall on the Venice red carpet following the long, hearty applause and positive reviews the film “Thy Womb" received after its screening on Thursday. Aunor, lead star of the country's lone entry in the main competition of the recently concluded 69th Venice International Film Festival, was even cited by one critic as a serious contender in the best actress race. According to producer Larry Castillo, the film was given “a rousing ovation that lasted until the entire Philippine delegation left the cinema." “It was overwhelming," he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer via SMS. Critic Neil Young, who writes for The Hollywood Reporter, considered Aunor a best actress contender. His other bets were: Hadas Yaron and Irit Shelreg in “Fill the Void"; South Korea's Cho Min-soo (“Pieta"); Germany's Franziska Petri (“Izmena"); and France's Isabelle Huppert (“Bella Addormentata"). Young posted on Twitter: “Best Actress field much more competitive with Void's Yaron & Shelg my hunch. Then Jo Min-soo, Franziska Petri, Nora Aunor, Huppert." In Hollywood Reporter, Young gave “Thy Womb" a mixed review, but praised the acting, production design and cinematography. Said Young of Aunor: “Her elfin features, so powerfully expressive of both happiness and sorrow, help make Shahela an engaging, unlikely heroine." In Indiewire, Young described Brillante Mendoza as a “wild card" and his film as “hard-to-call." — Agencies
