LILET Never Happened

Director Jacco Groen

I met Lilet (13) in a mental hospital in Manila 18 years ago. It was one day after she tried to commit suicide. For me she was a cruel example of a broken mind in a fucked up society. When I asked her why she tried to kill herself she said: “Men are only interested in my body but no one wants to know what’s under the skin. I thought if I’m dead they can have my body, but I don’t have to feel it anymore”. This never left my mind, but when I came back to shoot a documentary, she was gone.When I read in 2008 that due to economic crisis child prostitution was growing, I decided to give Lilet and many other girls a voice.
It took us 6 months to find the perfect girl for the leading role. But because of lack of fundings the shooting period was spread out over a period of 3 years (2009 to 2012). Every year I was able to bring up just enough money for 10 shooting days;  without support of Film foundations or television because it was my first feature.
Jacco Groen directed about 25 documentaries for television. His short film Solina was selected for Berlin Film Festival and won in several festivals.

Plotline
A scrawny young Filippine girl (11) struggles to survive in the streets of Manila. International social worker, Claire, tries to save her, but this hard headed, traumatized girl thinks she can take her life in her own hands. But she has to face up to reality when she runs out of innocent dreams.
The film has a vivid approach to the heavy subject.

 Lilet Never Happened won:
Best youth Film in Kristiansand Norway Best youth film Copenhagen, Denmark. Best Actress for Sandy Talag in Oaxaca Film Festival in Mexico Audience Award best film in Auburn Film Festival, Australia. Best Drama Script at AOF Film Festival Best Director in International Film Festival Manhattan NY Best Cast Ensemble at the International Film Festival Manhattan NY
http://www.liletneverhappened.com

synopsis

Lilet, a scrawny female teenager walks down the street in a seedy part of the red-light district of Manila. She lives on the street because her mother was trying to sell her. Suddenly, police patrol cars screech to a halt as cops swoop down and nab the street vagrants, among them Lilet who viciously resist arrest,  cursing, kicking and clawing. In the police station Lilet appears hardened by misery and poverty. She is an angry, bitter young girl. But if she wants to, she can look innocent and angelic.
Dutch social worker and owner of a drop-in center, Claire, notices “Snow White” and wants to help her. Although Lilet doesn´t need her pity, Claire visits lilet´s mother, Rosing an ex-prostitute and stepfather Tonyo, in the slum quarters. Shortly after Lilet is reunited with her parents, the girl is able to escape and visits Claire at the drop-in center. She gets to meet Nonoy (15) who is the oldest male child in the center. They immediately like each other. Lilet tells exaggerated fantasy stories to the other kids, showing them a picture of her father who is a famous actor. Lilet stays in the drop-in center until her mother finds her and takes her away. Claire can´t stop her and Lilet feels betrayed.

Lilet escapes again from her mother and visits a nightclub where Tessie, Lilet´s older sister, is working. Mama Curing, a huge woman who owns the club, does not miss the fact that Lilet is beautiful but under-aged and makes her a busgirl (the girl who collects the glasses). Tessie assures Lilet that their mother cannot touch them here. Lilet easily gets drawn to one of the older girls, Alice, whom the others fondly call “crazy.” Alice is kooky.
Soon “Snow White” is very popular among the customers and soon she is forced to go with a foreigner who is offering a lot of money for her virginity. Lilet stays in touch with Claire and their relation becomes stronger. But when Claire finds out where Lilet is working, she demands the police to raid the nightclub. Some girls manage to escape, among them are Lilet and Alice. Lilet furiously goes to the drop-in center spoiling for a confrontation with Claire. She angrily blames her for destroying the lives of the people working in the nightclub. Claire tries to help Lilet, but Lilet thinks she can handle the world with her wits.
Soon this rebel girl realizes she is running out of innocent dreams…