Warla is a fearless crime drama that refuses to look away from the desperation and longing at the heart of its characters. Raw, heartbreaking, and confrontational, the film follows Kitkat, a 19-year-old transgender woman who finds the family she’s been searching for in a gang of “sisters” who kidnap foreigners to fund their gender-affirming surgeries.
Director Kevin Alambra crafts a tense yet deeply human portrait of women scarred by rejection, dysphoria, and violence—forced to survive by taking power in the only way they know. The ensemble is unforgettable, each sister carrying wounds that make their choices both shocking and tragically understandable. Kitkat’s perspective provides the emotional anchor: a young woman who does not believe she needs to “fix” her body to be whole, yet still aches for love, belonging, and acceptance.
At the center, Lance Reblando shines with a performance that is both commanding and deeply vulnerable. The film doesn’t just tell Kitkat’s story—it makes you feel the pride of being part of the LGBTQ+ community. It slaps you with harsh truths, but also reminds you that you are important, valid, and you exist.
The supporting cast—Jervi Wrightson, Serena Magiliw, and Valeria Ortega—further enriches the film, embodying the many faces of today’s LGBTQ+ community. Their stories are raw and honest, holding up a mirror to society and confronting us with realities that cannot be ignored. The twist in the narrative adds another layer—shocking, existential, and painfully relevant—making Warla not just a film to watch, but a story to feel.
What makes Warla stand out is not only its gritty realism but also its refusal to romanticize its characters’ crimes. Instead, it poses haunting questions: What is the true cost of belonging? How much of ourselves are we willing to give up just to be accepted?
Loosely based on real events, Warla cuts deep as both a survival story and a meditation on identity. It is unsettling, moving, and unforgettable—lingering long after the credits roll.
My Verdict: 3.5/5
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