The movie “Fan Girl” has been the talk of the town ever since its release last December 25th. With it raking in award after award in the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival (2020), there’s something extra to the movie that was rather unexpected.
Netizens have said that the movie also illustrates President Duterte’s leadership and those who follow him. For those who have seen the movie, they compared Paolo Avelino’s character to the Duterte administration while the character played by Charlie Dizon represents his blind followers.
Netizens have a different conclusion on the film’s overall message. Some have understood its meaning by saying that the movie, despite not being political, is a representation of the Duterte administration. The movie, as viewed by netizens, was really gearing towards its call to condemn idolatry and misogynism—a perception on how Duterte supporters have been following the leadership of the President.
Done watching "Fan Girl" and it rightly deserves all the buzz and accolades it's getting. It's a powerful statement against idolatry and misogynism that it feels more like a social commentary. The film, of course, is not political, but its representations are. —
— Jhoanna Ballaran (@jhoannaballaran) December 28, 2020
Some, to even point out the proof, have spoiled a few details in order to strengthen their belief that the movie threw shade towards the government. A netizen even pointed out a scene in the film where a news report was heard in the background.
https://twitter.com/davegpua/status/1342394987502178304
“Ayon sa palasyo, pumayag naman ang babae. At sya pa mismo ang nagsabing walang masama sa nangyari.”
This was heard in the background. The news report was a clip from ABS-CBN’s news program Bandila wherein the reporter disclosed the reaction to the incident where President Duterte kissed a woman.
“Wag kalimutan ng pangulo na maging ehemplo sa kabataan.”
Netizens really have viewed the movie as a commentary on the president and his followers.
Fan Girl is not just about Jane being a fangirl to Paulo Avelino, but the film also depicts how the society idolize Duterte. Which ironically is similar to Paulo’s character who’s a foul-mouthed, immature, indecisive, incompetent, misogynistic type of male species.
— girly teenage girl (@uztinn) December 27, 2020
A netizen even commended the attempt of Director Antoinette Jadaone to create a movie that appears to be a narration of celebrity fandom, but when diving deeper to its real meaning, was actually a political statement.
Fangirl (2020) is an attempt of @tonetjadaone to deviate from her usual pacute (but intelligent) treatment to a particular story. This movie appears to be an ethnographic narration of celebrity fandom, but is actually a critique to the prevailing political reality.#MMFF
— Renier Louie B. Bona (@renierbona) December 27, 2020
The subtlety of the message was even appreciated by those who have seen the film. A Twitter user praised the film for the way it sent its message of how the Philippine society have become obsessed on idolatry.
Tangina! Ang husay! @impauloavelino @charliedizon_ #FanGirl The subtle political tone on the misogynistic Philippine society and our obssession on idolatry is goddamn smooth. Damn it.
— Alwyn (@alwynmancio) December 27, 2020
The topic that the movie tackled was really a critical issue that needs to be discussed as it focused on blind fanaticism, something that DDS have been accused of.
fan girl sheds light on blind fanaticism. napaka-importanteng usapin 'di lang for pop culture's sake but in the current political climate and the obsession with putting people on pedestals. is it really harmless idolatry or has it now become toxic-parasitic?
— nics makino (@K0LAB3AR) December 26, 2020
All of them really appreciated on how the film was able to take a jab at political leaders and how their supporters followed them blindly.
I like how the fan girl film also shade how filipino look up to some political Leaders at kung san aabot pag ka fan mo #FanGirlMMFF
— dyuls 🍊 (@sui_juls) December 27, 2020
A netizen described the power of the country’s leader and how his followers use such power.
https://twitter.com/pangpangbahay/status/1342412184454746112
Netizens have described the movie as misogynistic, characterizing ‘Fan Girl‘ to be a dark film and full of current Philippine issues that Filipinos face.
Fan Girl at its core is dark. How it translates the current issues we face in the Philippines – political worshipping, sexism, misogyny, especially with our president who propagates it.
— tiara (@tiara_imperial) December 28, 2020
In fact, Direk Jadaone revealed that the political climate in the Philippines molded ‘Fan Girl’ the way it is now. She explained that it was supposed to be about romance. Yet, with the change in the country’s situation, the movie also developed into a darker kind of movie.
“I think it was brought about by the political climate that we were in while we’re doing the film. We started the development of the film in 2016. It was a different story then. But medyo coming of age na din. Pero mas napunta sya ng romance. But then, nag-iba yung paligid natin, nag-iba yung Pilipinas from 2016,” Direk Jadaone explained.
She also added that due to the events which unfolded since 2016, the script had to be changed. The director also revealed that the reason the setting of the movie changed is because the Philippines also changed.
“And it was a natural progression also for the script. Na parang si Fan Girl, yung bida namin, dapat yung setting nang pelikula, magbabago rin dahil nagbago yung Pilipinas,” she stated.
For the director, it was important that the movie does not stray from what is actually happening in the country.
“Parang hindi dapat humihiwalay yung setting ng pelikula sa kung anong nangyayari sa paligid. Kasi si Fan Girl ay nakatira dun sa Pilipinas na yun,” said Direk Jadaone.
