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Markova: Comfort Gay

Country: Philippines, Language: Tagalog | Japanese | Filipino, 97 mins

  • Director: Gil Portes
  • Writer: Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr.
  • Producer: Dolphy; Dolor Guevarra

CGiii Comment

Quite a remarkable film...of a remarkable story.

The only crime is that it has been seem by too few people.

This is about survival in very difficult times - especially, if you are prone to dressing as a woman.

The cultural acceptance of homosexuality - even during war - is something the West cannot get their heads around.

Adopting the role of the woman somehow negates the impact of being subversive.

Eastern gay cinema, with a production like this, can certainly teach the West, mainly Hollywood, a thing or two.

Quite remarkable.


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The(ir) Blurb...

Gil M Portes (Miguel/Michelle, 1999) tells the unconventional true story of Walter Dempster, Jr, otherwise known as Markova. After watching a documentary about the suffering of women forced into prostitution 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 friends found further suffering at the hands of Japanese soldiers, forced into sex work to survive. But even after the war, Markova's struggle continued.

Cast & Characters

Dolphy as Walter Dempster Jr. / Walterina Markova;
Eric Quizon as Walterina Markova;
Jeffrey Quizon as Young Markova;
Tony Bueno as Japanese Soldier / Rapist;
Ricci Chan;
R.S. Francisco;
Melvin Lee;
Loren Legarda;
Freddie Quizon;
Ronnie Quizon;
Andoy Ranay