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As someone who was completely oblivious to the viral trend back in 2020 that became the basis for the story of ‘Marupok AF,’ I was taken for a wild ride as I watch the Quark Henares-directed film (with a screenplay by Henares and John Bedia). It’s a story of a horrifying catfish scheme directed primarily at transwomen and other members of the LGBTQIA+ community (at the end of the film, even one woman said she was victimized by the real-life perpetrator). It was recounted on Twitter and this formed the film that opened the 19th Cinemalaya Film Festival. ‘Marupok AF’ features much of Quark Henares’ refined, glossy, and hip filmmaking. It includes a terrific cast that includes EJ Jallorina, Maris Racal, Royce Cabrera, and a scene-stealing Gabby Padilla.

But with everything going for it, the film treads on very dangerous ground because while it shows the full range of hurt that can come from a catfish scenario, the film’s takes the tone of a comedy (and sometimes even the conventions of a heist movie) that ends up serving as a buffer to how despicable the act is. In fact, it turns the act of catfishing into a comic situation where the audience are laughing at the trans character, who is victimized by the situation and the young man who is being exploited by the catfisher.

It follows the story of Janzen (Jallorina) who meets Theo (Cabrera) via a dating app. It’s a powerful connection and Janzen finds herself falling in love except that it is quickly revealed that Theo is really Dennis, an aspiring industry professional who accepts the job of pretending to be Theo for Beanie (Maris Racal), who has a thing for catfishing transwomen like Janzen. Strangely enough, Beanie goes to the extreme with Janzen and this forms the crux of the story.

Told in a non-linear manner and through various perspectives, Janzen reveals her innermost thoughts through monologuing live on her social media, facing the camera and relating the story to her followers (the audience). Dennis ends up telling his story via an internet talk show, complete with a host. One of the many tricky areas is that Beanie gets to the talk to the audience directly. Completely unmediated, whether by social media or by a host, Beanie gets to directly talk to the audience and plead her case. In fact, her studio has a bar that she can lean on while talking and it gives her the image of a podium and she gets the most screen time. Racal is devilishly charming. She is so engaging that she takes over the three storylines and it feels like it becomes Beanie’s story.

Henares doesn’t shy away from showing us how Theo’s playing hot and cold is screwing with Janzen’s mind but while the movie does show us Janzen agonizing over it, we also get to see Beanie and her co-conspirator Dina (played deliciously by a scene-stealing Gabby Padilla) enjoying the fruits of their fiendishness. But the film plays it as a comedy and as the film feels more tilted to Beanie, it is Beanie’s triumph that feels highlighted and not Janzen’s pain.

And while this is going on, Dennis is caught between an opportunity (Beanie promised him that she’d help him be an actor and a director) and doing what he can see is a horrible thing to do. He is conflicted but he also needs the money that Beanie offers and the opportunity. So, Dennis is being exploited but he is also a butt of the jokes as his being of the common folk is also used for comedy.

Told in three different perspectives simultaneously, with varying degree of tones (though all are consistently comedic), ‘Marupok AF’ details the the inner workings of an elaborate catfish scheme but with the villain at the center. Rather than be disgusted, you find yourself amused by them (and Racal’s excellent portrayal of Beanie’s confusion as to why she might actually be so invested in taking Janzen down) and, in a way, Beanie is humanized whereas Janzen and Dennis are turned into punchlines.

It’s easy to put the camera on Beanie, she is an interesting character, especially when played by Racal, but to do so at the expense of Janzen and Dennis, both who are played so brilliantly by Jallorina and Cabrera, makes ‘Marupok AF’ a dangerous film. While I’m on my seat squirming and seething with anger at the horrors that Beanie and Dina are putting Janzen through, the crowd around me were laughing, courtesy of Henares’ slick filmmaking, witty dialogue, and hip music (composed by CRWN).

Fortunately, the film ends well (it is a comedy after all) and the final act is given to Jallorina’s Janzen but I feel like I could’ve gotten to know her better throughall of this. As the film tries to create a rally cry of understanding and compassion by its final act, it can feel like a last-minute realisation for having let Racal’s Beanie steal the movie.

With that being said, ‘Marupok AF’ is Quark Henares’ best film. It takes his strengths – directorial finesse and a pulse of what tickles the zeitgeist –  and presents a story that is so rooted in the now. It’s best when it allows its characters to just be themselves (and it helps with a cast this good and working at this level) and when he puts the spotlight on Janzen and how society is so mean and cruel to transpeople (there’s a scene involving a bathroom and a vicious bathroom attendant that sends shivers down my spine). I wish the film was more of that than of Beanie.

My Rating: