Julia Barretto on her upcoming movie with Aga Muhlach: 'Please give our film a chance'
Julia Barretto has appealed to the public to give her age gap film with Aga Muhlach “a chance” after facing backlash ahead of its release.
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, Julia shared on her Instagram account some behind-the-scenes photos from their film Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko.
“Please give our film a chance,” she wrote.
Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko follows the budding romance between Michael (Aga), a conductor and an arranger, and a choir student, Jas (Julia). In the trailer, the two became close after the latter had a one-on-one music coaching session after he coincidentally watched her in a bar singing off-key.
The trailer also showed the two appear on deliberation about the ethical dilemma of their budding romance.
“Frankly, I’m quite surprised na isusugal mo ‘yung professionalism mo for an affair,” another character said, to which Jas replied, “E ang pogi e. Bawal ba akong magkagusto?”
Prior to the trailer release, the movie met with criticisms with social media users pointing out the themes of “power gap” and “grooming.”
“Surely Aga is playing Julia’s father, right? If not, then forecasting was not done for this film’s viability. Given awareness and outcry now about grooming and negative power dynamics on big age gaps, NO ONE will watch this film,” an X user previously wrote.
More social media users expressed their mixed reactions to Julia’s Instagram post.
“I really want to watch coz it’s you. It’s just that I don’t want to normalize older men going for younger women. Ayoko ng ganung trope. Still love you juls, sorry,” an Instagram user commented.
“[N]o thank you julz, [pero sana ‘yung] ka loveteam niyo both is sing edad nyo pareho manonood us but not this,” another one commented.
Another one also wrote, “[B]aka [may] twist to, [wag natin] pangunahan ng negative.”
The film is written and directed by filmmaker Denise O’Hara. Joining Julia and Aga in the cast are Nonie Buencamino, MJ Cayabyab, Boboy Garrovillo, Nicole Omillo, Janine Teñoso Frost Sandova, and Cindy Miranda, among others. It will premiere in cinemas on Feb. 7.