Harana backdrop

Harana

2012·Documentary·1h 44m
7.1
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 where men sang under the window at night to fearlessly declare their love for a woman. Intent on unearthing these unheralded songs, Florante travels to the remote provinces, where he discovers three of the last surviving practitioners: a farmer, a fisherman, and a tricycle driver. Astounded by their golden voices, Florante asks them to travel with him to perform and record these unknown songs. During their travels, the haranistas meet Brian, a shy young man who for years has been secretly in love with a schoolmate. The haranistas, who have not serenaded in the last thirty years, offer their services to serenade Brian's object of affection, resulting in one of the most tender moments of genuine harana captured on film.
Directed by Benito Bautista
philippines
cultural
serenade

Crew

Benito Bautista
Benito Bautista
Director
Chuck Gutierrez
Chuck Gutierrez
Editor

Popular Reviews

2 reviews
Donkles
Donkles
Harana
Keep old art alive, don’t leave the past behind to end up a ghost.
Keep old art alive, don’t leave the past behind to end up a ghost.
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Hrsbrgr
Hrsbrgr
Harana
The best documentaries are the ones where you learn something and are touched in some way, this freaking nailed it.
The best documentaries are the ones where you learn something and are touched in some way, this freaking nailed it.
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mariel
mariel
Harana
when people say “bring back yearning” this is what they mean btw. serenade me!!! tell me you love me!! and tell me you’re in pain whenever we’re apart!!! lol

the way their eyes teared up whenever they sang or heard a song made me tear up too. it made me feel warm when they recounted times they serenaded/were serenaded to, and you could hear the fondness in their voices. the harana scene was as wholesome and endearing as it was awkward haha

watching this made me feel homesick and it made me wish I got more time with my grandparents. being someone who yearns and longs deeply is a blessing and a curse. and quite frankly, it feels inescapable
when people say “bring back yearning” this is what they mean btw. serenade me!!! tell me you love me!! and tell me you’re in pain whenever we’re apart!!! lol

the way their eyes teared up whenever they sang or heard a song made me tear up too. it made me feel warm when they recounted times they serenaded/were serenaded to, and you could hear the fondness in their voices. the harana scene was as wholesome and endearing as it was awkward haha

watching this made me feel homesick and it made me wish I got more time with my grandparents. being someone who yearns and longs deeply is a blessing and a curse. and quite frankly, it feels inescapable
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Harana (2012) | Flick