Oliver Aquino in “Jino to Mari”
Director Joselito Altarejos is hoping that his film, “Jino to Mari,” about how a porn movie is made, becomes the subject of discourse when people leave the theaters.
The film, an entry in the 2019 Sinag Maynila Film Festival, was first screened at the Black Movie: Festival de Films Indépendants-Genève in Switzerland. It was also shown at the 9th Cambodia International Film Festival in Phnom Penh.
“The film received very contrasting reactions when it was shown abroad,” Altarejos said of the story of two sex workers (Oliver Aquino and Angela Cortez) hired to do a pornographic film, which pushed them to their limits.
“In Geneva, it was described as a philosophical and humanistic film,” Altarejos commented. “In Cambodia, it was called ‘provocative.’ The audience in those places saw the film differently. It would be interesting to know what the Filipino audience will say about it. I find this very exciting.”
“Jino to Mari,” which will be shown in selected cinemas in Metro Manila until April 17, eventually won for Angela the best actress award. It also brought home the best screenplay, best musical score and the Sinag Maynila Box Office awards.
“This was why during the gala screening, I told everyone to tag me when they post their reactions after watching the film. I believe I will learn something from their comments, not necessarily about filmmaking, but about life, or how society is now, and how we are as an audience,” Altarejos said.
“I’m interested in learning about the pulse of the audience. I’m curious, especially since the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) gave it an R-16 rating with all its nudity and sex scenes,” the director stressed.
Altarejos said he was also curious to know whether or not, like him, the audience would also consider it a “break from the nicey-nicey films that we have been seeing of late. Their themes are mostly safe, even for indie-movie standards. This, I think, is a good distraction. This is my little contribution,” he beamed.
The director said that casting had been an important factor in making the film. “Aside from choosing actors who are good performers, I also made sure it’s clear to them what they had to do for this movie. Hubad kung hubad, not just pa-sexy,” he pointed out.
Altarejos added: “On the surface level, yes, I’m doing a film about how to make a porno film. On a deeper level, I’m making people think. I needed my actors to trust me. They did meet my expectations. They helped me turn this project into the boldest and most daring Filipino film [this season].”