Philippine Drama "The Woman Who Left" Directed by Lav Diaz

This year's Golden Lion Award at the Venice film festival went to "The Woman Who Left."  I found this drawn out narrative so excruciating slow, I had to escape.  I left after an hour into this English subtitled drama.  The heroine, Horacio, was framed for murder & imprisoned for 30 years.   The artful cinematography in black & white was captivating.  The film is written/directed by Lav Diaz (b Phillipines 1958).  The somber tonal quality was not enough to entice my interest.  The film starts in a woman's prison labor camp under armed guards. The living conditions do not seem horrific.  The women gather for prayer meetings and educational lessons taught by Horacio, a former teacher.  Horacio is called into the warden's office and told she is free to go.  The warden apologizes for her long & unjust incarceration.  After her release, we watch in silence as Horacio transports from one long bus ride to another, to ferry rides, and along dark roadways.  Her 1st stop is the home she shared with her husband.  Horacio gives her property to the family who cared for her deceased husband.  She travels next to reunite with her daughter whom she last saw when she was 7.  Their reunion was heartfelt and moving.  Still, everything moved at a snail's pace.  Horacio declines her daughter's request to live with them.  She wants to find her son.  Horacio explains to her daughter her ex-boyfriend set her up on false charges out of revenge for not marrying him.  The film is about revenge.   Revenge is a dish best served cold but not painstakingly slow.  The lack of mounting tension never took hold.