To Calm the Pig Inside

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda, raged across the Philippines for days, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Cities were obliterated, and thousands died. In this short film of just 19 minutes, Filipino filmmaker Joanna Vasquez Arong looks back on that period, telling the story with remarkable fullness.

Accompanied by grainy, black-and-white images of the wreckage, Vasquez Arong recounts heartbreaking stories about the natural disaster and the injustices resulting from corruption in her country. She recalls the social solidarity after the disaster, and her spiritual culture, which plays a significant role in her life. The result is an engaging story that is highly personal, striking a balance between horror and beauty. This balance is also reflected in stunning photographs of the ruins that would not be out of place in a museum collection.