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| (Image Source: The Movie Database/Warner Bros. Pictures/DVent Pictures) |
A documentary film chronicling the trubitastically incredible journey of one of Philippine music's all-time greatest bands is set to be widely seen as Eraserheads: Combo On The Run is set to hit theaters nationwide as well as in select cities worldwide, for one weekend only, on March 21-23, 2025 with no plans on being available on any streaming platform in the foreseeable future. The highly anticipated film delves deep into the heart and soul of a band that defined a generation. It exclusively shares the untold story of their painful breakup and the difficult but necessary challenges they had to face to get back on stage for their historic reunion in 2022, at a time when the country was grappling with political division and uncertainties.
A nearly two-hour documentary co-presented by DVent Pictures and WEU Events Management Company, co-produced by Voyage Studios and Offshore Music and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run offers an insightful exploration of how a group of once-disbanded punks came together and provided reprieve to an entire nation while, perhaps unknowingly, embarking on a journey of healing themselves. Filipino-American producer and filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura, who spearheaded the cinematic project believes that the film is much more than a portrayal of a band’s breakup and the proverbial clash of egos. It’s an important piece of work that captures the band’s unflinching honesty and untold story behind the curtains, giving viewers an incredible sense of why they mattered and still do up to this day. Ventura shares, “This is a comprehensive deconstruction of the band’s mythology, humanity, complex relationship and the lasting mark they left on Filipino culture — one that transcends generations and differences.” Ventura, known for her acclaimed and award-winning body of work in film and music, highlights the vulnerability of the band members throughout the process, recalling, “Notorious for their guarded aloofness, I’m incredibly lucky and grateful to have witnessed these men allowing themselves to open up in ways people have never seen them. Their candidness and forthright honesty were a gift. It wasn’t just cathartic for them; it was transformative for me as a filmmaker and audience member. It gave me permission to reflect on my own truths, and I hope it does the same for others.”
The journey to complete Eraserheads: Combo On The Run was far from easy. Ventura admits the process was grueling, both physically and emotionally. “Each interview revealed new layers and complexities, which found us constantly reframing to deepen the narrative. Documentaries are a different animal, and I have tremendous respect for documentary filmmakers. It’s such a wild and unpredictable ride because it could go a million different ways. We’ve had over 30 reshoots over two years and 58 versions with the help of 4 editors. I’ve been so lucky to have had guidance from great friends, filmmakers and the band. If it weren’t for Ely Buendia, Francis Lumen, and the support and help of so many like Warner, WEU, Voyage Studios, and Offshore, I don’t think I could have finished this. This would probably be my first and last documentary. An exception only for the Eraserheads, who I owe my career trajectory to and who, objectively, I think is the greatest Philippine artist, with Ely as the best songwriter of all time. This was my way of thanking them by upholding their legacy.” Among Ventura's award winning works as an internationally acclaimed filmmaker are the short films “The Rapist” released in 2013, “Awaken” (2014) and her debut feature length opus “Diene Farbe (Your Color)” in 2021 which has been made available on Amazon and Amazon Prime.
The Eraserheads, omposed of vocalist-guitarist-main composer Ely Buendia, drummer Raimund Marasigan, bassist Buddy Zabala and lead guitarist Marcus Adoro, was formed in 1989 and disbanded in 2002. They are known for hit songs that defined a generation in the 90s such as “Ang Huling El Bimbo”, “With A Smile”, and “Ligaya”, among others. They first reunited on August 30, 2008 at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Open Grounds in Taguig City but the concert was famously cut short after Ely suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. They had a second reunion titled “The Final Set” on March 7, 2009 at SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, which was reportedly attended by nearly 100,000 fans. Co-produced by MTV Philippines and Smart Communications, the concert was exclusively aired on GMA Network as a TV special in April 2009. Since then, they’ve been touring abroad but have not performed together in their home country until "Huling El Bimbo" in December 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Slated to be the Eraserheads' last reunion show, the band managed to bring the concert to the US, Canada, and Middle East. The band is set to bring the reunion show to Australia and New Zealand on March 2025.
