After more than a year of travelling the international film festival circuit as "Where is the Lie?", director Quark Henares’ "Marupok AF" comes home with a theatrical opening in the Philippines tomorrow (19 June).
Inspired by a controversial real-life Twitter thread that shocked the Philippines during the pandemic lockdown, "Marupok AF" is a coming-of-age story about the horrors of online dating.
The film follows hopeless romantic Janzen Torres (played by EJ Jalorina), who finds another chance at love when she matches with the handsome Theo Balmaceda (Royce Cabrera) on a dating app. On the day they are supposed to meet, Theo ghosts her, leading Janzen into an intricate web of deceit, lies and catfishing led by sociopathic mastermind, Beanie Landridos (Maris Racal).
Reviewers have called the film everything from “Quark Henares’ best film” (Wanggo Gallaga, Clickthecity.com) to “a compelling and revealing look into real-life online drama and the ongoing struggle of trans people in the Philippines” (Rose Ho, The Asian Cut).
Co-written by Henares and John Bedia, the 90-minute feature sought “to understand why bad things happen to good people,” Henares says, adding that the film offers no clear answers. Instead, he says, it hints at possible motives.
“We also wanted to show Janzen’s coming of age. The character (and the person she’s based on) was initially very apolitical, unconcerned about gender issues or trans rights,” he says.
“When she finally became a victim of online violence, she realised that there was a community around her just waiting for her – ready and willing to give their support. Her struggle went viral, and everyone from members of the trans community to allies took their part in destroying the sadistic director’s career. Where is The Lie?, then, became the story of Janzen’s political awakening, and her call to arms.”
Henares says the film is told from three points of view, each with its own lo...
After more than a year of travelling the international film festival circuit as "Where is the Lie?", director Quark Henares’ "Marupok AF" comes home with a theatrical opening in the Philippines tomorrow (19 June).
Inspired by a controversial real-life Twitter thread that shocked the Philippines during the pandemic lockdown, "Marupok AF" is a coming-of-age story about the horrors of online dating.
The film follows hopeless romantic Janzen Torres (played by EJ Jalorina), who finds another chance at love when she matches with the handsome Theo Balmaceda (Royce Cabrera) on a dating app. On the day they are supposed to meet, Theo ghosts her, leading Janzen into an intricate web of deceit, lies and catfishing led by sociopathic mastermind, Beanie Landridos (Maris Racal).
Reviewers have called the film everything from “Quark Henares’ best film” (Wanggo Gallaga, Clickthecity.com) to “a compelling and revealing look into real-life online drama and the ongoing struggle of trans people in the Philippines” (Rose Ho, The Asian Cut).
Co-written by Henares and John Bedia, the 90-minute feature sought “to understand why bad things happen to good people,” Henares says, adding that the film offers no clear answers. Instead, he says, it hints at possible motives.
“We also wanted to show Janzen’s coming of age. The character (and the person she’s based on) was initially very apolitical, unconcerned about gender issues or trans rights,” he says.
“When she finally became a victim of online violence, she realised that there was a community around her just waiting for her – ready and willing to give their support. Her struggle went viral, and everyone from members of the trans community to allies took their part in destroying the sadistic director’s career. Where is The Lie?, then, became the story of Janzen’s political awakening, and her call to arms.”
Henares says the film is told from three points of view, each with its own look and feel.
"Marupok AF" was produced by Armi Rae Cacanindin, Pauline Zamora and Kren Villaflor Yap for Anima Studios and Kroma Entertainment.