Father Jejemon Explained

Father Jejemon
Director:Frank Gray Jr.
Starring:Dolphy
Production Companies:RVQ Productions
Country:Philippines
Language:Filipino

Father Jejemon is a 2010 Philippine comedy drama film produced under RVQ Productions. The film directed by Frank Gray Jr. stars Dolphy.[1]

Cast

Premise

The town of Parmbil is assigned a new parish priest. Fr. Jeremiah Jerome Montes, better known as “Fr. Jejemon”, succeeds Fr. Baby whose health is declining.

Not all the townsfolk immediately accept Fr. Jejemon, so he works hard to win their confidence. The priest also deals with Mr. P, a rich businessman who wants to seize control of the town.

Production

Development

Father Jejemon was produced under RVQ Productions with Frank Gray Jr. as its director. The film is Gray's first work since the 1977 film Omeng Satanasia[5] Bibeth Orteza and Rhandy Reyes did the screenplay.[3] Dominican priest Larry Faraon served as a story consultant.[4] [3] [6]

Dolphy came up with the idea to create a film about a priest, as it was his long-time dream to portray a clergyman since his uncle was a priest. Dolphy was initially hesitant due to fear of the film being censored, but his uncle offered him to help write the script. The idea was put on hold when his uncle died.[3]

Communion scenes

The film still received backlash from leaders of the Philippine Catholic Church for depictions of the communion; one scene shows the priest accidentally dropping a host between a woman's breasts, while another host is caught in a worshipper’s false teeth.[6] [7] The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board received a complaint over these contentious scenes.[8] Consultant Fr. Faraon approved the scenes, reasoning that these scenarios actually happen in real life.[4] These ultimately were voluntarily edited out by the production studio for the theatrical release,[6] and the film passed a second review by the MTRCB.[9]

Release

Father Jejemon was released in the Philippines on December 25, 2010 as one of the official entries of the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival.[1]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations
Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work/ Person Results
2011 29th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Awards Best Actor Dolphy [10]
2010 Best Actor Dolphy [11]

Notes and References

  1. News: PEP: Official entries to the 2010 MMFF bared . 7 January 2024 . GMA News . 30 June 2010 . en.
  2. News: Samio . Veronica . Santa tatapatan ni Father Jeje . Father Jeje goes against Santa. 7 January 2024 . Pilipino Star Ngayon . The Philippine Star . 8 December 2010.
  3. News: Tomines . Nica . Dolphy portrays a progressive priest in Father Jejemon . 7 January 2024 . PEP.ph . Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. . 8 December 2010 . fil.
  4. News: Llanes . Rommel . Father Jejemon showcases Dolphy's effortless brand of comedy . 7 January 2024 . PEP.ph . Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. . 28 December 2010 . fil.
  5. News: Comedy King plays priest in Filmfest entry . 7 January 2024 . Filipino Journal . 5 December 2010.
  6. News: Dolphy cuts 'Father Jejemon' amid Catholic protest . 7 January 2024 . ABS-CBN News . 21 December 2010.
  7. News: Bishop criticizes Dolphy's 'Fr. Jejemon' film . 7 January 2024 . GMA News . 21 December 2010 . en.
  8. News: Francisco . Butch . Father Jejemon intact sans communion scenes . 7 January 2024 . The Philippine Star . 21 December 2010.
  9. News: Dolphy absent on 'Father Jejemon' premiere . 7 January 2024 . ABS-CBN News . 23 December 2010.
  10. News: Cruz . Marinel R. . 29th FAP Awards without the awardees . 9 January 2024 . INQUIRER.net . 12 July 2011 . en.
  11. News: Cruz . Tonyo . Winners of the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival Awards . 9 January 2024 . Travel Wire Asia . 27 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020643/http://www.travelwireasia.com/2010/12/winners-of-the-2010-metro-manila-film-festival-awards/ . 19 April 2014.