We’re fans of John Sayles here at the Playlist and while his recent output has been a little spotty, the director’s fiercely independent spirit and unique cinematic voice always make him one to keep an eye on.
Since the release of 2007’s “Honeydripper” Sayles has gone quiet, popping up in a couple of small film roles and taking a writing credit on “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” But it appears the director was getting the pieces in place for his next film, “Baryo,” a fictionalized account of Philippines-American War at the turn of the century.
The film apparently grew out his years-in-the-making, 1000 page novel “Some Time In The Sun” that unfortunately didn’t find a publisher. While the book, which ironically enough started out as a screenplay, didn’t manage to get printed, it did help raise finances for the film. Details on the plot are scarce, and while it certainly won’t have the breadth of his novel – which fused similarities to Vietman, post-Civil War racism, Reconstruction and the rise of Hollywood into a giant narrative – it will be a period piece set during the Philippines-America war.
Production is already underway on location in the Philippines, and the film even has its own blog with a wealth of information. Longtime Sayles collaborator Chris Cooper, Garret Dillahunt, D.J. Qualls, Yul Vazquez, Tita Cecile, and James Parks are among the cast.
Obviously, no release dates are available at this time but we imagine 2011 is realistic. We just hope the film doesn’t have to wait long to find a distributor.
