JAY

Philippines, 2008, 95 minutes, Colour.
Baron Gleiser, Coco Martin.
Directed by Francis X. Pasion.

Jay is a film about media manipulation. It focuses on a murder in Manila, the presentation of a program about the murder and the response of the family for Channel 8 Television. It is a variation on a reality show. Then the film actually shows the producer of the documentary and his cameraman and assistant, and what they actually did in informing the family about the murder, filming the reactions, restaging particular events, persuading people to be interviewed when they did not want to, editing and giving a pious ending to the whole program. The film is quite telling in its presentation of the exploitation of a grief-stricken family – as well as the rather mercenary response, eventually, of the family.

The film also focuses on a theme very common in Filipino films, sexuality, more specifically, homosexuality. The character who is murdered here is a gay man in secret. However, his family knows, he was taunted about this at school, has taught and has moved to Manila with the promise of a job in Baltimore, US. However, men go to his apartment, especially masseurs, and he is found brutally murdered.

The film takes on the theme of homosexuality in the Philippines, secrecy, need for more openness.

The television producer appears as quite camp at the beginning and soon manifests his own gay orientation.

The film is also religious in its context, the family finding out the news on Ash Wednesday after going to mass, the emphasis on Lent and the Passion experience of the mother, the culmination of finding the criminal on Palm Sunday. Ceremonies are also introduced (and finally, the credits give a great number of nods to Catholic individuals and institutions and, finally, a dedication to God).

The film is basic in its presentation, small-budget. However, it is cumulatively effective in its presentation of the investigation, the making of the television program and the arch manipulation by the producer. The film is also overtly and highly emotional which may be off-putting to cultures which prefer the stiff upper lip.

1.The film, about film-making, television, reality shows, manipulation of participants, manipulation of film, editing, the point of view of the producer?

2.The locations in Bacalor, the family home, its poverty? The images of the town, the mayor, the school, the students, their activities, the teachers? A feel for a provincial town? The contrast with Manila, the victim’s apartment, the streets, the police activity, the crowded markets? The religious ceremonies? The musical score?

3.The basic situation, the audience seeing the program with the mother on television, the continued version, the edited version? The point at which the narrative went back to Ash Wednesday, the making of the program? The actual events, Channel 8, Jay and Carlo his photographer, Andrew his assistant? The arrival, giving the information, getting the consent, the waiver? Jay and his ability to manipulate people? Re-enacting the scene – especially with the mother and the bird in the window on the day of the murder? Going to church, the interviews after church, the interviews at home, going to visit the morgue, the grief at the morgue (and the repetitions of the re-enactment)? Jay and his smooth and persuasive manner, manipulating people, constructing his program? An opportunist? The phone calls to his boss, Mother? Andrew and the effects, especially with the string on the bird? Taking the victim’s place for the re-enactment of the morgue sequences?

4.The brutal death of Jay, the visuals, the wounds, the mystery, the neighbours and their comments about men’s visits, the finding of the criminal? His SIM card, being caught, the re-enactment of his capture and his running away? His explanation of the sexual motivation for the murder? Self-defence?

5.Homosexuality, in the Philippines? The religious dimension, ethics? The opening, Jay explained as a teacher, his relationship with Edwardo, his schooldays, his being taunted, his studies, his becoming a teacher, religious education, Christian character? The testimony of the teachers – and seeing what they really said in their interviews? His going to America, his supporting the family? Issues of homosexuality, overt, closeted?

6.The religious dimensions: Ash Wednesday, the ashes on the forehead, the church, Lent, Palm Sunday? The procession?

7.Spirit religion and superstition, the green and pink chicks, pecking the rice grains from the body, meaning to prick the conscience of the marriage? The various rituals, the wake, the funeral, lying in state? The funeral procession? The absence of the Catholic element in the funeral?

8.The portrait of Jay’s mother, in herself, her love for her son, her husband, his care for his son, working in Saudi Arabia, his death? The house and the eruptions of Mount Pinatubo? The lava, the eventual destruction of the house? The mother and her children? Their grief at the death of Jay? Her signing the waiver, her participating in the re-enactments, the repetition of the morgue sequence, insisting to Jay that the mayor be interviewed, his helping to educate Jerry? Genuine, manipulated?

9.Jennifer, her experience of her brother’s death, her memories of him, her grief, getting Edwardo’s phone number for Jay, her being persuaded to sing on camera, her grief remembering her brother’s instructing her in the song? Jerry, his grief, his future education?

10.Edwardo, partnering Jay, his being shy, not wanting to come for the interview, his being persuaded, the interview itself, Jay and his being provocatively camp? The mother not wanting so see Edwardo, but changing when he arrived? His interview, his condemnation of the killer, his declaration of love on camera? His participation in the funeral?

11.The teachers, the gay teacher and his camp behaviour, his being disguised, yet putting on makeup? The teacher weeping – and saying that’s what she had been asked to do? The mayor, the producer saying that he could not interview politicians, his allowing one sentence?

12.The real Jay, his manufactured image? As a boy, studies, gay young man, teacher, Christian living? His character? The cupboard and the pornography? His death? Lying in state, the grief of the family and the town?

13.The suspect, the re-enactment of his arrest, his running away, the chase? The mother and her outburst against him? The motivations for the murder?

14.The producer, his character, seeing him in action? His use of Carlo, Carlo and his texting? Andrew and his collaboration? The screening of the finished program – and the credits for Jay Santiago?

15.The aftermath, the producer at home, the arrival of the masseur, the sex film? Exploitation of the situation?

16.The overall impact of the film? As a film, its media theme, religious themes, emotional themes, sexual themes, violent themes?