Bona (Nora Aunor), a middle-class girl from the Philippines, is obsessed with Gardo (Philip Salvador), a bit actor in low-budget films. When she decides to drop out of school to follow the object of her infatuation, her furious father casts her out and Bona moves in with the actor in the Manila slums. At first delighted to play house, the young woman soon finds herself not the wife, but rather the maid — at the mercy of Gardo’s every whim and desire, yet intent on enduring his unending parade of conquests, in the hopes of finally being seen.

Produced by its iconic superstar Nora Aunor as a subversion of her own fame at the time, and brought to life through Lino Brocka’s (Cain and Abel) trademark blend of high stakes melodrama and keenly observed social realism, Bona is a masterpiece of Filipino cinema. It unfolds as a troubling character study at the intersection of fandom, sexuality and martyrdom, in a country where fanaticism, both political, pop cultural and religious, remain driving societal forces. After premiering at the 1981 Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival and long thought lost thereafter, Bona makes its triumphant return in a new 4K restoration.

For thoughts on Bona, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Kani presents Bona with an exquisite 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the Original 35mm Camera Negative that rescues this gem from obscurity. The film grain appears completely natural and consistent without any signs of unnecessary manipulation, as everything resolves to perfection. Even open-air outings avoid spiking or other stray issues. The movie is appropriately gritty and filmic with an abundance of fine detail on display for the first time. We didn’t spot any signs of print damage or stray specks throughout this undeniably great restoration. The texture present in the fabrics and within the shoddy production design is astounding. 

The implementation of Dolby Vision for enhanced color output is deftly implemented to harness the nuances of each environment. The film is not overflowing with bright colors, but the complexity of each shade adds to the tactile nature of the locale. The hues render with a degree of accuracy not to be undervalued. The contrast is another essential element for this film. Black levels are deep with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are effortless with no blooming. When it comes to encoding, we did not spot any digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This presentation from Kani is a standout in every regard. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with the original DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track in the original Filipino and Tagalog. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by the sound effects or music. The downtrodden setting is brought to life with a lively din of sound that emanates to provide some valuable ambient details. The variety of sounds in the mix seems adroitly rendered so that nothing ever feels artificial. Music is an essential part of this film’s tone, and the score establishes an appropriate mood for this outing that never falters in its fidelity. There are a few bustling moments, but nothing is pushed to the extreme from a sonic perspective. Everything is presented with a straightforward fidelity that never shows signs of strain. This presentation is clear of any hiss or other age-related wear and tear. Kani has ensured this sounds as good as possible. Optional English, English SDH, and French subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Interview with Assistant Director Jeric Soriano: A nearly 12-minute interview with the artist who talks about his journey to working on this film, making other movies during the production downtime, working with Lino Brocka, memories of the shooting locations, dealing with the excitement of the community, and more. 

• Interview with Actor Nanding Josef: A nearly 23-minute interview with the performer in which he discusses his early entry into performing, amusing interactions with Lino Brocka, working with Nora Aunor, being unable to see the film again after his first viewing when it debuted, the political landscape of the era, and more. 

• Q&A with Allan Brocka at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: A nearly 23-minute conversation with the nephew of Lino Brocka in which he discusses learning about the legacy of his uncle, working with people who worked with Lino, recurring motifs in Lino’s work, and more. 

• Superfan (2009): A 22-minute short film from Clodualdo “Doy” Del Mundo Jr. that takes a look at the number one fan of Nora Aunor. 

• Theatrical Trailer (1:11)

• Booklet: A multi-page booklet is included featuring an essay by author Jose B. Capino that delves into the creative figures, the themes of the film, and more. 

Final Thoughts

Bona is an essential piece of Filipino cinema that was very nearly lost to the sands of time. Thankfully, fate and dedicated preservationists stepped in to rescue this complex tale of delusion, abuse, obsession, power dynamics, and so much more that is too rich to distill in a few sentences. Nora Aunor is a radiant and sympathetic screen presence who completely disappears into this complicated character. While it can be a stressful viewing experience, it is a valuable watch for cinephiles. Kani has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a miraculous A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. Recommended

Bona is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. 

Disclaimer: Kani & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.