This is the reply of to the critical comments.
BINI JHOANNA has shared her two cents about Maris Racal’s film “Sunshine,” but received negative comments in return.
The sports coming-of-age film starring Kapamilya actress Maris Racal, called “Sunshine,” has won two awards at the Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF). The film earned the Narrative Feature Jury Award and the Narrative Feature Audience Award at AAAFF. The judges were impressed by the film’s storytelling, setting, and lead performance.
It also won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The film follows the story of a young gymnast who got pregnant during the week of the national team tryouts.
According to the reviews online, the story is a reminder of reproductive health in the Philippines and how the weight of this becomes a privilege already – the rich go abroad and the poor get to drink bleach while bleeding in a dark room. Abortion remains illegal, yet it is still accessible—a reality many choose to ignore or overlook.
Helmed by Antoinette Jadaone, “Sunshine” was produced by ANIMA Studios and Project 8 Projects.
BINI Jhoanna was among those who highly appreciated how eye-opening the film was. She expressed how it tackled mental health, the strength of young mothers, and the power of making a choice. However, people online expressed that she seemed to have missed something from the film.
Her review accordingly seemed to undermine the core message that the film wanted to relay to the viewers. Some expressed that her stance sounded “anti-abortion,” while others pointed out that she glamorizes the concept of “pro-life.”
In response to the criticism, she released a statement via an Instagram post, expressing her gratitude for the constructive feedback. She then apologized for the misunderstanding her review had caused. Initially, she had no idea of the discussion and buzz that surrounded her review. She later knew about it when a friend told her.
“I appreciate the constructive feedback po. If my choice of words and how I posted Sunshine’s experience came across differently than I intended, I sincerely apologize po,” she expressed.
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