UNFRIEND

Philippines, 2014, 93 minutes, Colour.
Sandino Martin, Angelo Llagan.
Directed by Joselito Altarejos.

This film was directed by Joselito Altajeros who has developed a reputation in his home country, the Philippines, for directing dramas which focus on homosexuality and gay relationships. The film has been produced by the Philippines most famous contemporary director, Brillante Mendoza, many of whose films also focus on homosexuality and gay relationships. And this is definitely the case with Unfriend.

The central character is David, a 15-year-old, whose mother has migrated to the United States and he lives with his caring grandmother – although she spends most of her time watching religious programs on television, cooking and going to church. The film takes place over only a few days but we realise that David is an intense teenager, sexually aware, and passionately infatuated with an older friend.

The friend leaves David, wanting to give him some space. That is not what David wants at all. He talks was mother on Skype for Christmas, thanking her for the money that she has sent which he uses on Internet connections, one of his passions, especially Facebook. His grandmother wants him to go to mass with her for Christmas, but he is reluctant. And even more reluctant when he actually goes, listens to the sermon which offers conventional comments about Christmas, but begins to use his iPad to his grandmother’s annoyance. He then wants to go to the toilet – and makes his escape the mass. Back at home, there are Christmas songs and a Christmas meal.

However, David’s obsession grows. He goes out to a club, picks up a young man at the club and goes to the roof for a sexual encounter. Then he goes to buy a gun.

He contact his friend and they agree to meet in a mall. He seems somewhat demented, playing with his drink and a straw, the friend seeming calm even casual.

With no communication in sight, except for the huge screens all around the mall where people can watch one another, David takes the gun, stands at a screen where he can see his friend, a camera on him, and he shoots himself. In a comment, the director suggested that one of his main themes was the obsession with social media, and exhibitionism, even to killing oneself on screen.

In one sense, this film is visually more restrained than the other films of the director. In another sense, it is far more intense in this portrait of obsessive relationships than his other films.

1. A film from the Philippines? Produced by Brillante Mendoza? The tradition of his films? Slices of life? Issues of sexuality? Gay themes?


2. The work of the director? His films on gay themes? Explicit presentations?

3. The style of this film, hand-held camera, the range of screens from computers and display screens in malls? Lighting, angles, arty mingling of images and colour? The introduction and the end with the hands, moving in and out of camera focus, dance and movement? The musical score?

4. The title, David and his relationship with Jonathan? The biblical overtones of David and Jonathan? The relationship from the opening, the sexual scene, Jonathan leaving? David deeply affected?

5. David, his age, minor, his relationship, intensity, entries on Facebook, his search for Jonathan and his entries and images?

6. David, his mother in the United States, talking on Skype, sending the money, his using it for the Internet? His preoccupation with computers and internet? His grandmother caring for him, her watching television all the time, the religious programs? Her preparing the food, storing it in the fridge, meals?

7. The Christmas setting, the grandmother wanting to go to Mass, David not wanting to go, at the church, his behaviour, with his iPad? The priest, his homily, routine material, uninteresting for the younger generation? David asking to go to the toilet? At home, with his grandmother, eating, singing?

8. Jonathan, phone calls, older, Jonathan with other men, calling them his cousins?

9. David, going out, going to the club, the pickup, the sex on the roof, his wandering, going to buy the gun?

10. David and his needs, tracking Jonathan, the meeting, the food on the table, playing with his drink, Jonathan going to the toilet, returning, leaving?

11. David, need for love? The effect of Jonathan going?

12. The mall, the screens, each watching the other on the big screens, getting out the gun, killing himself, and exhibitionist suicide? And people in the mall watching, and the audience and prurient curiosity?

13. The film of mad love, obsession, unrequited? The title?