“We follow orders, not laws.” Hermes Papauran is disillusioned with the irrationality of the Philippine government and police organization. To make matters worse, he finds himself haunted by nightmares compounded by the Duterte administration’s initiation of the ‘war on drugs.’ As a capable detective, Hermes delves into the unsolved case of Esmeralda Stuart to lessen his feeling of guilt. Esmeralda, a renowned fashion model and dedicated advocate for the endangered Philippine eagle, receives contrasting assessments from those around her. The question remains: what truth will Hermes ultimately confront? Essential Truths of the Lake is a kind of prequel of When the Waves are Gone (2022), released last year, and the second part of the ‘Hermes trilogy.’ In an era of contradictions and violence, the film encapsulates the relentless quest for justice through restrained yet lyrical monochrome frames. (BOO Kyunghwan)