Deception is an advocacy film about Philippines justice system

Vivamax latest offering, Deception, is an advocacy film exposing the injustices happening in the Philippines. It is starred by former flames and ‘90s love team Claudine Barretto and Mark Anthony Fernandez.

Directed by the acclaimed Joel Lamangan, who is also behind the Viva classics The Flor Contemplacion Story, and co-produced by Borracho Film Production, Deception tells the story of Rose (Claudine), a famous actress, and Jericho (Mark Anthony), a stunt double, who fall in love and get married.

As per media release, as they start their own family, they are blessed with a son named Thomas. By the looks of it, it’s already a perfect life filled with love.

But what is supposed to be a promising future for their family starts spiraling down after Rose is convicted for killing her husband and sentenced to a 10-year imprisonment.

With Rose in prison and Jericho’s eventual death, their son is taken to an orphanage and learns to live without his parents.

As Rose’s time behind bars ends, she tries to start her life anew, among them is finding and reconnecting with her estranged son, who is now a teenager. But her troubled past starts to catch up with her and reveals all the lies that go with it. She also soon finds out why her almost perfect life went crumbling down.

The drama mystery film is “some sort of indictment of the justice system” that Borracho Film producer lawyer Ferdinand Topacio has personally experienced.

“Sometimes because of the technicalities and sinuosities ng ating sistema ng katarungan, yung walang kasalanan na-co-convict at nakukulong,” said he, relating it to the film, “Yung ebidensya akala mo ganito, hindi pala ganun. Makikita mo how a false conviction can ruin a life.”

He continued, “‘Pag palagay mo na on appeal, na-abswelto ka, papano yung 10 years na nagugol sa iyong buhay na hindi na mababalik? How about the career that has been ruined? Your reputation in the industry (that has been tarnished) in the case of Rose Alcantara in this movie?”

Deception is lawyer Ferdinand’s “personal statement that the justice system of this country is far from perfect – this is my advocacy film.”

While the lawyer mentioned that Rose’s story is not an actual case, her situation is like a composite of cases that the former has witnessed in court. “Dapat po ay hindi na-convict yung tao ngunit dahil sa certain confluence of events ay na-convict siya na hindi naman dapat. Kaya nga po tayo nag-abogado to right a wrong and that is the job of a lawyer. This is like, symbolic of all the injustices that are (happening) in this country.”

The film is Ferdinand’s first production under Borracho Film and he is currently working on the Mamasapano movie, which is about the death of the 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) commandos. He felt honored teaming up with the “three pillars in the industry in my first venture  — direk Joel, Claudine and Mark Anthony.”

Deception also marked Claudine’s movie comeback and reunion with Mark Anthony after 27 years since their last project.

Claudine and Mark Anthony’s undeniable chemistry is still there, said direk Joel. “Mahusay ang kanilang tambalan. Alam mong meron silang tinatagong kahusayan sa isa’t isa. They were very professional.”

The two veteran actors didn’t disappoint the director. “These two are very intelligent. They easily understood how to give life to the characters that were assigned to them,” shared direk Joel.

He added, “Mas malalim silang dalawa ngayon dahil sa mga nakaraang taon, sa mga karanasang nasagap nila sa kanilang buhay. Mas lalong naging malalim ang kanila persepsyon sa realidad na kinakaharap nila at nata-translate nila yun sa kanilang pag-arte.”

The valuable insight the one can gain from Deception is the mother’s love for her child, according to direk Joel. Relating to the hardships of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), lawyer Ferdinand furthered, “Kapag ikaw ay nasa tama, never stop fighting. Because God sees the truth, but waits. Eventually ay makukuha mo ang hustisya.”

“Be careful who you trust,” stated Claudine. “Kahit yung malalapit na tao na minamahal mo, lahat tayo merong tinatago. We always have to be careful with the people we trust.”

“As a mother, you will do everything for your children at lalo pa na nalayo sila (like in the film’s plot), hindi titigil ang isang ina (to find him),” added she.

Lastly, Mark Anthony mentioned a particular scene in the movie wherein, “Yung ininum ng isang character dun, nilagyan ng pampatulog. Biglang ‘pag gising niya…so ingat din sa ganun.”

(Deception can be streamed exclusively on Jan. 28 via Vivamax.)