Understanding the female experience can be messy and complicated. But at the same time, it is an introspective journey that allows us to challenge our beliefs and unlearn outdated narratives about ourselves.
Photo: Project 8 Projects & Neon
You can start this journey by watching films that put women at the heart of the story as the protagonists of their own lives. Whether you’ve seen these before or are planning a binge-watching spree, these women-centric movies will provide more than just entertainment (or a few tears); they offer deep and valuable insights into womanhood, love, and life. Because sometimes, seeing our own struggles and experiences on the screen is our first step toward understanding ourselves better.
Here are five women-centric films you must watch at least once in your life:
1. Sunshine (dir. Antoinette Jadaone)
Released in 2024, Sunshine is a coming-of-age sports drama that follows a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant during the week of national tryouts.
In the Filipino context, matters of sex, reproductive health, and abortion remain taboo. By showcasing a raw, uncomfortable reality, the film poses challenging questions that force us to reflect and create meaningful dialogue beyond the cinema: How can we make the world a safer place for young women? How do we become more empathetic toward the struggles women face daily—especially the ones they keep to themselves?
Sunshine is a compelling film that does not nitpick, blame, or shame young women for their circumstances. Instead, it sheds light on the dangerous, precarious circumstances they face in fear of judgment or persecution. As this film earns its well-deserved flowers, we, as viewers, can only hope that the systems that put women in jeopardy will finally begin to change.
2. Sentimental Value (dir. Joachim Trier)
For eldest daughters, the Oscar-nominated film Sentimental Value is the kind of story that will tug at your heartstrings in the best possible way.
The film has a simple premise: two sisters reuniting with their estranged father after the death of their mother. However, it isn’t the type of film defined by the chaotic and melodramatic fights (like the ones Filipino viewers grew up watching on afternoon television). Instead, it explores the silent longing to be seen, the quiet desperation of wanting to return to how things used to be, and the complex realizations of a father-daughter relationship that still needs resolving.
After watching this film, you’ll find yourself agreeing with this sentiment: even if you and your siblings grew up in the same circumstances, you will have different outlooks on life. One might have had it easier than the other, but the burden became bearable because you had each other.
3. Kim Ji-yong: Born 1982 (dir. Kim Do-young)
It makes perfect sense why the novel sold more than a million copies when it was first released.
Based on the novel of the same name, Kim Ji-Young: Born 1982 is a daring and unflinching look at the quiet struggles of women through a Korean lens. The film follows the mundane life of a mother, but it guides us through the many forms of discrimination they face daily: at home, in the workplace, and within the patriarchal world they inhabit. It is a grounded view of motherhood—one that allows us to step back and see that while women have made immense sacrifices, they deserve to be treated not as monsters or outcasts when they want something for themselves, but to be supported and seen.
By the end of the film, you’ll find yourself wanting to hug your mother (or the mother figures in your life). They are not just mothers; they fill many roles: a sister, a friend, a dreamer. They deserve a world that treats them gently, rather than one that crucifies them when things become inconvenient.
4. He’s Just Not That Into You (dir. Ken Kwapis)
He’s Just Not That Into You may have been released in 2009, but more than a decade later, the lessons this film offered still ring true.
In the movie, the main character finds herself in a tough spot: she frequently misreads her dates’ intentions, leading to utter disappointment. Now that we are living in the digital age—where dating apps have become our last resort when organic encounters fail—it has become increasingly difficult to read between the lines, discern someone’s true intentions, or get a real shot at love.
But as the film’s title suggests: We must not make ourselves a doormat just to feel an ounce of love. Does that mean we have to completely shut ourselves off from the world the moment we doubt someone’s interest to avoid heartbreak? The answer is not black and white: love is a continuous process of trial and error. We shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves when we make the wrong decisions, but we should also learn when to walk away when the situation warrants it.
5. Runaway Bride (dir. Garry Marshall)
When we think of runaway brides, the blame is usually placed solely on them. Why did she ruin the wedding? What about the groom? How could she be so selfish?
Released in 1999, Runaway Bride admittedly contains several dated clichés that are no longer okay in today’s setting—from a columnist throwing away journalism ethics to chase his subject to the underlying misogynistic labels women face for their choices. However, on the other side of the coin, the film offers an interesting perspective on independence and marriage. When we enter a relationship, we often find ourselves morphing into our partner’s interests and goals, until we eventually forget who we are.
This film sheds light on the importance of taking the time to figure out our own identities, whether we are single or in a long-term relationship. It matters that we know what we want and what we stand for, even in the smallest details—like how you prefer your eggs. Do you love them scrambled, poached, or sunny-side up? Once we discover our own voice, it is a disservice to ourselves to “shrink” or blindly follow someone else’s lead.
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