Well-crafted, heavy with emotion and meaning.
First of all, it’s important to understand that abortion is illegal and considered a crime in the Philippines, even if the pregnancy resulted from r*pe. And in many communities, teenage pregnancy is seen as a taboo subject, and young women who find themselves in this situation often face judgment and stigma, which forces many of them to seek out dangerous and unregulated methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies. "Sunshine" does an excellent job of delving into the difficult and emotional topic of teenage pregnancy and abortion, highlighting the risks and consequences faced by those who are forced to resort to such extreme measures and handling those issues with care yet in a powerful way. The film also touches on the financial and healthcare issues of the lower class, pointing out how crucial it is to improve medical services and provide support for those experiencing unplanned pregnancies.Putting 'chasing a dream vs living reality' as a big question, this film is packed with raw emotion and the inner struggle of an aspiring young athlete who found out she was pregnant just months away from a major national level competition. And Maris Racal delivers an outstanding performance, capturing the pain and struggles with genuine authenticity. In my opinion, this is her best performance to date. She even trained gymnastic for a year to prepare for this role. Impressive! 👏
While everything is just so well done—from the script to the production and the performances—this film is not one without a flaw. The only shortcoming is probably that certain characters are not neatly fleshed out, leaving you kind of wondering what their story is. But as the plot unfolds, it starts to come together. Hence, this film is nearly perfect, but not yet. So 9 is the best rate I can give this film.
Overall, the film is truly heartbreaking and eye-opening at the same time. It’s also a testament to the courage and creativity of Filipino filmmakers, who continue to push boundaries and spark important conversations through their work. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in something thought-provoking.
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Sunshine exquisitely illuminated the issues of teenage pregnancy and abortion in the Philippines.
TL;DR: realistic storyline, great use of noise/sounds, perfect acting & casting, and nice cinematography. an impactful film. 10 out of 10.-----------------------------------------------
[Medyo Taglish post ahead]
I was literally dumbfounded and emotional when I finished Sunshine at the cinema earlier. While the story does have a predictable plot twist, it was still a 10 out of 10 for me as it realistically mirrors the current situation of teenage pregnancies and the dangers of (still illegal) abortion in the Philippines. Additionally, there were no draggy and filler scenes in the film.
Firstly, the use of noise and sounds were amazing!! For me, ito talaga 'yung nagdala sa buong film. The camera work, props, setting, and coloring, too. All of these perfectly captured what real Manila (and real Philippines) looks like-- from busy and noisy streets, to people desperately clinging to religion and woo woo things, to harsh depictions of poverty, to sh*t healthcare system, to slut shaming and misogyny, I do believe they all nailed it. Kudos to Jadaone and the whole crew for this.
Maris Racal's portrayal of Sunshine is very much on point-- her acting was subtle, yet astonishing. She's done a notable role as a gymnast, too. Alam kong may body double siya pero 'yung emotions niya whenever she does a routine, lalo na sa pinakahuling routine practice niya? Wow. I felt her struggles as the movie went by.
The support roles were remarkable too-- Annika Co and Jennica Garcia were a great cast for the unknown girl and Sunshine's sister, respectively. Rhed Bustamante's role as Mary Grace and her story also shook me to the core. All of the casts did their role well.
Aside from being dumbfounded and emotional after I watched this, the movie made me feel disturbed yet empowered at the same time, because as a woman, I do believe we should have our own authority and our own choice on what to do with our bodies.
Overall, Sunshine is an enlightening film that will surely make you reflect about thousands of women in the Philippines, or maybe in the world, getting pregnant at an early age.
(Oh, and legalize abortion now.)
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