Sunshine (2024) TIFF Review: A disturbing tale illustrating the significance of women’s rights

Filipina director Antoinette Jadaone’s latest feature film tells the story of a gymnast who discovers she is pregnant shortly before trying out for the national squad.

Let me ask you one question: What would you do in such a situation?

Would you give up on your dreams to raise a child? Or would you give up on having your child to follow your dreams?

I think there is no right answer. The option is and should be solely ours to make, based on what we desire, rather than being constrained by laws that bind us or society that frowns upon us.

But in this movie, the female gymnast called Sunshine (Maris Racal) finds herself in a dilemma, while simultaneously having to deal with the possible illegality involved in exercising her abortion rights in the Philippines.

The film, which was chosen for TIFF’s Centerpiece program, highlights the challenges faced by aspiring Olympic athletes while addressing the controversial subject of teenage pregnancy and abortion in the Philippines.

Sunshine is a bright, savvy and talented gymnast, who is an inspiration to budding gymnasts. She needs to try out for the national team, more as a formality, as her position in the squad is almost guaranteed. One fine day as she rehearses for the try outs, she falters. Her surprised coach asks her what’s wrong, after which Sunshine realizes she has missed her period. She could be pregnant and that would definitely jeopardize her career.

She exits the gym, lost and confused, seeking solutions while walking aimlessly, yet purposefully through the metropolitan Manila. To add to the surrealism of her feelings, she encounters a little girl (Annika Co) who follows her around and makes petty conversation. Their interaction continues throughout the film although the identity of the little girl is left to the audience’s open interpretation, as per the director’s perspective.

Sunshine’s relationship with other people shows the sad reality of societal attitudes that impact vital decisions in everyday life.  Sunshine’s best friend (Xyriel Manabat) distances herself on her mother’s insistence due to the repercussions in case a scandal breaks out. Her ex-boyfriend Miggs (Elijah Canlas) initially pretends that he had nothing to do with her sudden pregnancy, but when Sunshine threatens to rat him out to his pastor father, he agrees to pay the bills for the possible abortion procedure. Her older sister (Jennica Garcia) is in the dark about Sunshine’s plight until a certain incident in a shady motel room, followed by a hospital emergency, renders her to view the truth.

A significant portion of the movie centers on Sunshine’s search for the abortifacient medication in Manila’s black markets and the ensuing difficulties. It’s quite evident she acknowledges precisely what she wants right at the beginning of the film. But, as is the case always, her environmental factors, combined with Filipino laws, cloud her judgement.

This movie contains several trigger warning elements, ranging from teenage pregnancies to rape. But ultimately it also proves to be an ode for embodying female power, while shedding light on the importance of regulations to at least decriminalize abortion in the Philippines.

It’s not an easy movie to watch and can be quite visual during the depiction of certain scenes. However, it is extremely gripping and a brilliant way of story-telling where realism meets magical realism. Dreams do come true, but the choices you make on the path to success will stay with you throughout your life.