In the deeply Catholic and patriarchal Philippines, where abortion is illegal and societal expectations for women are unforgiving, Sunshine illuminates the struggle for autonomy and identity with rare candour. Sunshine Francisco, a gifted gymnast aiming for the Olympic national team, faces a devastating reality when an unplanned pregnancy threatens her dreams. Portrayed with remarkable intensity by Filipino shooting star Maris Racal – who trained rigorously for a year – her journey unfolds against the backdrop of a darker Manila, where faith, desperation and resilience collide.
Determined to reclaim her future, Sunshine navigates the labyrinthine streets in search of illegal abortifacients, passing market stalls laden with herbal remedies and religious icons. Shadowing her is an enigmatic young girl, mirroring her inner turmoil and fears. This narrative layer deepens the film’s psychological resonance while nodding to the Hispanic traditions of magical realism, subtly evoking the Philippines’ colonial history steeped in Catholicism.
Director Antoinette Jadaone crafts a gritty, grounded narrative laying bare the oppression faced by women in a society that denies them reproductive rights. Sunshine not only captures the visceral stakes of a young athlete’s crisis, but also explores universal questions of choice, morality, and self-determination, offering an unflinching yet empathetic portrait of resistance against systemic constraints.

Guest: Antoinette Jadaone

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