‘Jacqueline Comes Home’ film earns mixed reactions from netizens

“That’s why it’s ‘JACQUELINE COMES HOME’ from the word HOME… family,” she continued. (Photo: VIVA Films/Facebook)

Just a few days before its release, Meg Imperial and Donnalyn Bartolome’s upcoming film “Jacqueline Comes Home” received mixed reactions from netizens, with some encouraging viewers not to watch it and others are curious about the film.

The crime-thriller film is based on the real-life story of the two Cebuana sisters, Jacqueline and Marijoy Chiong, who were kidnapped, raped, and murdered in 1997. This movie marks the directorial debut of Ysabelle Peach Caparas, daughter of well-known writer and director Carlo J. Caparas, who is also the film’s assistant director.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, July 15, a certain Marlina Santiago Carlos urged viewers to “boycott” Caparas’s film and instead watch the 2011 documentary entitled “Give Up Tomorrow” which tackles the alleged wrongful imprisonment of the 21-year-old Francisco “Paco” Larrañaga.

“Jacqueline Comes Home: Will be based on the false testimony of a convicted felon. Will recreate events that never happened. I don’t want to support this film in any way possible,” Carlos wrote.

“Give Up Tomorrow: Based on facts, will show the screwed up Philippine justice system. Will show the story of a boy illegally arrested at 19 and wrongfully convicted at 21, sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit,” she added.

Sharing the trailer of the film, another Facebook user Kristina Sanciego told viewers that before watching the movie, they need to see the documentary first and they will find themselves angry, in tears, and at loss.

“I wanted to be neutral about this issue but watching that documentary, researching about it and seeing this film’s trailer have made me disgusted of how vile and corrupt people can be,” Sanciego said.

According to her, Paco is living in Spain as a third-degree prisoner and working as a chef by day, but he still comes home to his jail cell at night.

“Don’t let yourselves fall into the drama that convicted the innocent. Obviously, there’s a much bigger scene that we don’t see here,” Sanciego continued.

Twitter user @mhae_llantada, meanwhile, said “F—!!! I can’t help it but react sa (to the) posts about that Jacquiline comes home movie. #FREEPACO He’s 40yro now. He’s not even given a chance to have his own family. Tapos (And then) there were people siding with the Chiongs? Hay nako!!! Pinas anu na (What now, Philippines)!“

For @keilcustillas, everyone deserves to know the whole truth regarding the Chiongs case and not just a movie that would give the audience a “false and one-sided” story.

“#JacquelineComesHome lol (Laugh out loud). To whoever is reading this one. PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE. Plain bullsh*t. Just watch the documentary film ‘Give Up Tomorrow.’ Lol ito nalang magagawa natin (this is all we can do) for the accused innocents because no one gave them their justice way back,” she said.

She added that she was also disappointed with both Imperial and Bartolome, who will play the role of the Chiong sisters, as they should have researched first before they took the offer.

Responding to these, Imperial took to social media her defense of the film, asserting that the focus of it is about what the Chiong family went through after the loss of the Chiong sisters and not who is/are the perpetrator/s.

She added that they did make a research and even watched the 2011 documentary before they shoot the film.

“Like what our director said. This is not about the other family. Dis (This) is about the family’s suffering regarding the loss of their daughters,” Imperial wrote.

“That’s why it’s ‘JACQUELINE COMES HOME’ from the word HOME… family,” she continued.

Despite these criticisms, there are some who would still want to watch the movie as it makes them really curious.

“So excited to watch this #JacquilineComesHome to see the Chongs’ side after watching #GiveUpTomorrow of Paco’s’. And let us ponder what’s gonna happen next,” Twitter user @agabas231 said.

“Watched #JacquelineComesHome trailer and got curious. And I’m here, lurking infos (information) about Chiong sisters’ case,” netizen @_shineeshine wrote.

Another user, @notfromdawest said, “Sh*t I’m so into this new viva film movie #JacquelineComesHome. I have to read articles. Ghaaad. This is some batsh*t story.”

Aside from Imperial and Bartolome, “Jacqueline Comes Home” stars Alma Moreno, Joel Torre, and Ryan Eigenmann. The film will premiere in cinemas this July 18.