Why Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl is one of the best Filipino films? (An entry to OCD Community Boost)

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I am not a fan of the romance genre in films. I don't feel the vibes of an overused plot in Filipino romance films, where you can predict what would happen next. I think the Filipino movies are getting dumper to date. It focuses more on profits than good storytelling. It may be due to the Filipino audience wanting more of that untasteful movie and the forceful comedic punchline. There are good Filipino films that divert the usual formula. One of these movies is Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl.

I must say that one of the best Filipino films in 2020 is Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl. I accidentally watched the movie due to my sister watching it on Netflix. What makes me watched the film is it quite different from the usual storyline of this genre. Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl gives a darker take on romance that diverts from the stereotype films about obsessed fans. Most movies about obsessive fans tell how a fan became psycho due to its obsession and idolatry. Fan Girl shows how a teenage girl is willing to do everything for her idols and reflects how dark our obsession can be. The film depicts how a teenage girl's fantasy became her worst nightmare.

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In Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl, Jane was a 16-year old obsessed fangirl of movie star Paulo Avelino. She knew every detail of Paulo's biography. She admired his good looks and talent for acting, which he shed tears at an instance. Jane is madly in love with her idol. One time, Paulo and his screen partner Bea Alonzo promotes their latest show. Jane sneaked into Paulo's pick-up truck cause she is hoping to get close to her idol, and she wasn't expecting Paulo to drove to a remote town. She faced Paulo and realize the duality of his life when she uncovers his dirty deeds. Paulo has a drinking, drug, and smoking addiction. Jane realizes she is not the man she saw on screen.

Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl reflects on how fan culture and celebrity life in the Philippines. When you watch Fan Girl, and might ask, why would a 16-year old girl cut classes for a shallow reason of meeting a celebrity? We can say it is too much, but there is a lot of Filipino fan doing that. Social media flooded with fan wars because their idol is better than yours. In one interview, Jadaone reveals that her Fan Girl is a culmination of what she experienced as a director and previously a production assistant dealing with celebrities and their fans.

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Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl discusses obsession and blind fanaticism among fans. In Fan Girl, Jane willingly sneaked to Paulo's pick-up truck to be closed to her idol. In one scene, Paulo asked Jane why she's a fan. Jane's responses are shallow and superficial. She said Paulo is good-looking and has good acting skills, but nothing more. Jane has no clue who was the real Paulo behind the camera. It reflects some Filipino fans that blindly follow their idol without a hint of celebrity's true self. In the film, Jane defends Paulo even without knowing Paulo's true self. Jadaone shed light on what Filipino fan culture is.

A scene in Fan Girl shows how Paulo teaches Jane to smoke and drink even though Jane was a minor. She said she is 16 but willingly act to please Paulo. It is a metaphor that being a blind fanatic influences people to do the wrong things. Fans defend every activity of their idols, either bad or good. It is a severe concern for fans who always put their celebrity idol on the pedestal. I don't know if Jadaone wants us to perceive these messages in the film, but Jadaone shows being a blind fanatic brings no good to us. Being a fan should not allow us to do things unlawful and wrong. A true fan never imitates their idol's incorrect deeds. We should still follow our moral compass.

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Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl went too far to the dark side of the romance genre. Spoiler ahead! There is a sex scene between Paulo and Jane, but it is somewhat disturbing. Why? Jane had her first sex, but her facial emotion changes from a girl whose dreams of getting closer to his idol to a look that somewhat she is clueless on what happened. Was she rape? I think she gives Paulo consent, but that is shady. Jane did not know what happened and giving consent when you know nothing is vague. Jadaone explores what happens when an impulsive young and innocent fangirl meets his celebrity idol and has sex with him, but not knowing if she was rape or not. Jadaone gives us some feel of what will happen to a blind fan who is willing to do all things for her idol.

When I first heard about Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl, I thought it is the same rom-com film. Fan Girl may not in my movie list, but I love how Jadaone showcased the Filipino fan culture as a fresh take but darker romance film. Jadaone talked about blind fanaticism and obsession, which depicts a lot of the fan culture. Fans are likely to do immoral things to please their celebrity idols. On the other hand, Jadaone shows the duality of a celebrity's life. What we see on screen may not be what their true selves are.

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Again, spoiler alert! In the final scene, we see the unfortunate reality of Jane. She lived in a tough neighborhood in poverty. Her mother suffered abuses from a violent boyfriend. It is a sad reality that no one loves Jane at all. The ending is disturbing. Many people went through a painful experience with someone on their sides. Jane can't confide in her experience cause no one is there for her. She might continue what she experienced without someone correcting her.

Charlie Dizon is a newcomer in films, but she did not disappoint. She played the role of Jane perfectly. She was able to portray a street-smart impulsive girl but still innocent and vulnerable. Paulo Avelino, who is playing a rascal version of himself, was gutsy to pull off such an act. He was able to himself from the character and did not hold back to play an untasteful character, whose foul-mouthed, drug addict, and a creep. Antonette Jadaone gives us a disturbing psychological horror of what was experienced by Jane, which turns out to be her nightmare instead of a whimsical fantasy. Antonette Jadaone's Fan Girl is Rated R-16 due to the disturbing personification of a male adult having inappropriate behavior toward a female minor.