Entertainment

DARRYL YAP’S ‘TILILING’ PUTS MENTAL ILLNESS IN A BAD LIGHT, AND IT DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH NETIZENS

When the poster for the upcoming movie ‘Tililing’ was released, a lot of people were quick to criticize it for its misrepresentation of people with mental health disorders.

JOVE MOYA / 11 February 2021

The human mind is not easy to study. It would be a safe bet that even the smartest and most advanced technologies in the world could not identify if someone is battling with mental health issues in just a snap. 

According to the World Health Organization, one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. “Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.”

Because of the varying symptoms of mental disorders, others could have their illnesses identified easily, while some have to undergo a series of psychotherapy before receiving their diagnosis. 

When Darryl Yap’s upcoming movie ‘Tililing’ released its movie poster over the weekend, netizens were quick to call it out for portraying mental health patients in the most stereotypical and derogatory way. 

Psychology major and actress Liza Soberano took to Twitter her disappointment over the movie poster. According to Soberano, the poster puts mental health issues in a bad light. 

 

“Really hoping that this movie will spread awareness and enlighten us on the struggles of dealing with mental health. But the poster? It’s a no for me. Mental health is not a joke. Stop the stigma,” Soberano stressed.

Aside from Soberano, other netizens have also called out the movie poster, saying that it lacked respect towards people who are struggling with mental health problems. 

“Aren’t there more sensitive ways to promote awareness about mental health? Dude, using the word “tililing” then accompany it with “weird” and “funny” faces do nothing but reinforce the stigma. They don‘t encourage discourse,” journalist Kevin Manalo said.

 

“Just saw the #Tililing poster and while I want to hope for the best especially with one of the actors being open about their struggle with their mental health. The poster + title could’ve been done more tastefully. Apologize + change it please,” said Psychologist AJ Sunglao. 

 

Meanwhile, people who currently suffer from mental illnesses wish to end the stigma by sharing how they really look everyday. 

“Just wanna drop my thoughts on the movie trailer and poster of #TILILING by VinCentiments. This is my recent photo and I have depression, anxiety, PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder] and have suicidal thoughts once in a while. I do not look like anyone in the poster–I have been to rehab and a psych ward myself. I have encountered people who have schizophrenia, bipolar, etc. none of them looked like that either,” one Twitter user said. 

“Sure, they had their bad days and days wherein they would throw a fit, but is it always rainbows and sprinkles when you have an illness? no right? The word tililing is an insult to people who have a mental illness because of the context of how the word is used to describe them,” she added.

 

Anxiety And Depression Support Philippines (ADSP), a support group and community for those with mental health conditions, also condemned the movie poster. 

“We can’t judge the movie if we havent seen it yet. Let us just hope that it’s done tastefully. The thing is, the poster is problematic. You see.. media is a big part of social conditioning– Di lahat ng makakakita ng original poster ay magbabasa, mag-iimbestiga o manunuod. Maaaring tumatak yang impresyon na yan sa utak nila ng matagal o habambuhay,” the group said in a Facebbok post. 

(“Not everyone who sees the original poster would read, investigate or watch the movie. The impression given by the poster might be what sticks in their minds for a long time.”)

“Paano ang mental health community? Stigmatized na nga kami, ‘di ba. Medyo hindi maganda ang dating ng poster na ito. Hindi lang sa pagsstereotyping, sa ikinabit na expression sa salitang tililing kundi sa salitang tililing mismo,” the group added.

(“What will happen to the mental health community? We are stigmatized enough. The poster isn’t good not only because of stereotyping but because of the word ‘tililing,’”) 

In Filipino, the word Tililing is a slang used to identify someone who is considered ‘insane’ or off-beat. 

Despite the backlash, director Darryl Yap justified his film, saying that people must watch it before giving their judgement. 

“Kapag napanood niyo na po ang #Tililing ay mauunawaan ninyo bakit ito ang titulo, bakit nakalabas ang kanilang dila; at bakit namin tinitindigan ang kalidad at mensahe ng pelikula. Kaisa po ninyo kami sa inyong adbokasiya,” the director said.

(“When you watch #Tililing, you’ll understand why this is the title, and why the actors’ tongues are out; and why we’re strengthening the message of the movie. We are with you in your advocacy.”)

This is not the first time Yap drew flak for his problematic content, in August 2020, his short film ‘Online Class’ was criticized online for insulting and antagonizing teachers.