Markova: Comfort Gay

Markova: Comfort Gay
Markova: Comfort Gay
	The original film poster
Directed by	Gil Portes
Screenplay by	Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.
Produced by	Rodolfo V. Quizon; Dolor Guevarra; Rene Pascual;
Starring	Dolphy; Eric Quizon; Jeffrey Quizon; Loren Legarda;
Cinematography	Johnny Araojo
Edited by	George Jarlego
Music by	Joy Marfil
Production; company	RVQ Productions
Distributed by	Vagrant Films
Release date	December 25, 2000;
Running time	97 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino; Japanese
Box office	₱190,000,000.00

Markova: Comfort Gay is a 2000 Filipino biographical-comedy, drama film based loosely on the life of Walter Dempster Jr., the last surviving Filipino "comfort gay" (male sex slaves for Japanese army) from World War II. The film tells the story of his hardships during his childhood and his travail during the World War II Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The character was played by actor Dolphy, who played the adult Markova while two of his sons, Eric Quizon and Jeffrey Quizon, played the role of two younger Markovas in two more different phases of his life.

The film was later digitally restored and remastered in 4K high definition by the ABS-CBN Film Archives through the facilities of Central Digital Lab. The 4K restored version of the film was premiered digitally on Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2020.

Plot

After watching a documentary about the suffering of "comfort women" forced into sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Markova decides to tell his own painful story to reporter Loren Legarda. Escaping the torment of growing up with an abusive older brother, he and his gay friends found further suffering at the hands of Japanese soldiers, forced as sex slaves to survive. But even after the war, Markova's struggle continued.

Cast

Dolphy† as Walter Dempster Jr./Walterina Markova (adult years)
Eric Quizon as Walterina Markova (during his middle years)
Epi Quizon as the young Markova
Ricci Chan as Anita
R.S. Francisco as Minerva
Melvin Lee as Carmen
Loren Legarda as herself
Freddie Quizon as Robert
Andoy Ranay as Sophie
Joel Lamangan as Councilor Justo Justo
Chandro Concepcion as Roco
Gio Alvarez as the young gay assistant in shelter.

Cameo roles

Andrew E. as Chiquito/"Tintoy"
Daisy Reyes as Rosa

Awards and recognitions

Official selections

2002 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
2002 San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
2001 Brussels International Film Festival

2001 Brussels International Film Festival

Won Prix de la Meilleure Interpretation, Dolphy, Eric Quizon, and Jeffrey Quizon

2001 FAMAS Awards

Won Best Supporting Actor, Jeffrey Quizon
Won Best Production Design, Kay Abano
Nominated Best Actor, Dolphy
Nominated Best sound, Albert Michael Idioma and Rudy Gonzales

2001 Gawad Urian Awards

Won Best Supporting actor, Jeffrey Quizon
Nominated Best Actor, Dolphy
Nominated Best Music, Joy Marfil
Nominated Best Production Design, Kay Abano

2001 Young Critics Circle

Nominated Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design, Johnny Araojo and Kay Abano
Nominated Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role, Dolphy