THE RIVER FLOWS IN DIFFERENT PLACES

THE RIVER FLOWS IN DIFFERENT PLACES
by Lot-Lot Hermosura

19:59 | Documentary | PG | Violence, GAD logos

FILM SCHEDULE

  • August 5, 2023 6:15 PM Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)

  • August 6, 2023 3:30 PM Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)

  • August 6, 2023 8:00 PM Ayala Malls

  • August 7, 2023 12:30 PM Ayala Malls

  • August 8, 2023 3:30 PM Ayala Malls

  • August 9, 2023 12:45 PM Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)

  • August 9, 2023 8:00 PM Ayala Malls

  • August 10, 2023 3:30 PM Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)

  • August 11, 2023 9:00 PM Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)

  • August 11, 2023 8:00 PM Ayala Malls

  • August 12, 2023 6:15 PM Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)

  • August 12, 2023 5:30 PM Ayala Malls

CAST
Maha, Net

PRODUCTION
DIRECTOR – Lot-Lot Hermosura
EDITOR – Yani Ali
CINEMATOGRAPHER – Lot-Lot Hermosura, Ange Frades, Ligia Daroy, Yani Ali, Juju
ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE – Jonahue Potenciano
SOUND DESIGNER – Yani Ali
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – University of the Philippines – Diliman
PRODUCER – Yani Ali

LOGLINE
Forced to flee Gaza, two Filipino-Palestinian mothers recount their repatriation journey to the Philippines and attempt to recreate the concept of home in a land both foreign and familiar.

SYNOPSIS
The aftermath of the October 7 war forced millions of Palestinians to flee Gaza. Among the displaced is the family of Filipino-Palestinian mothers Net and Maha. Both women recount their harrowing journey to the Philippines, a land both foreign and familiar. The film unfolds as a family diary – a collection of intimate interviews, personal photographs, home videos, and illustrations that reflect cultural duality, the search for belonging, and resistance through remembering.

FILMMAKER’S PROFILE        
Lot-Lot Hermosura is a cultural worker and film educator. She is finishing her master’s degree at the UP Film Institute, focusing on gender studies and Philippine regional filmmaking. As one of the primary creative consultants for the Rebelde Film Group, she advocates for films that critically embody the lived experiences of the masses. Her directorial debut, The River Flows in Different Places (2025), is a documentary portraying the Palestinian struggle for liberation through the memories of Filipino-Palestinian mothers.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
After the October 7 war, which left an estimated 1.9 million Palestinians displaced, several Filipino-Palestinian families sought refuge in the Philippines. Included in the repatriation is Net and Maha’s family. Their arrival drew local media attention and urged support from various individuals and social groups. However, after more than a year since their repatriation, as well as the broken ceasefire agreement in March 2025, the war has persisted. Considered “stateless,” Net and Maha’s family is faced with the challenge of rebuilding a life in a place both familiar yet foreign – of navigating a familiar yet distant culture.

The River Flows in Different Places unfolds as a family diary to reflect the personal testimonies of both women. The goal is to isolate the family’s story while connecting it with broader systemic discussions. People have become desensitized to the ongoing violence towards Palestinians – reducing them to mere statistics or online content one can easily ignore. Through the family’s personal account, the documentary serves as a reminder of actual individuals, actual families, actual people involved in this ongoing war. The film also sheds light on the Filipinos and Palestinian’s shared struggle for liberation.

FILM STILLS

BEHIND THE SCENES