Inside the towering skyscrapers that decorate the island of Hong Kong, 173,726 Filipina domestic helpers all have a story to share. Every Sunday, they converge at the paved streets of Central to share meals, play games, and talk to their loved ones. With the dense cityscape as their background, their exchanges drown out the hustle and bustle of the city; Filipina domestic workers juxtaposed outside luxury stores in Central, their faces filled with smiles as tourists and shoppers alike pass them by.
The documentary offers a narrative of the overseas Filipino worker that we haven’t seen before. While the film still showcases the plight of the Filipina domestic helpers, Villarama shifted her focus towards resiliency, a trait that is unmistakably and unapologetically Filipino. Strength is seen in the main characters as they combat unfamiliarity, loneliness, and alienation from the locals. What keeps them going is their drive to provide a better future for their loved ones back at home.
More than being real-life Cinderellas due to their Sunday curfews, it is more apt to consider the women as the unsung heroes of their families and country. Touted as the economic backbone, they contribute positively to our nation’s growth while standing up as the breadwinners of their respective families. The documentary highlights this as it pans from one scene to the next—from a domestic helper trying to remit money to another trying to fill a balikbayan box to be sent back home.
The no-nonsense storytelling of Sunday Beauty Queen sets it apart from the many films that also tackle the narratives of overseas Filipino workers. Unlike most films which overly dramatize the situations of overseas workers, Sunday Beauty Queen definitely has no frills. The film is a sobering take on the lives of OFWs as its narrative comes straight from the tongues of the characters it introduced. While other films such as Rory B. Quintos’ Anak (2000) and Chito S. Roño’s Caregiver (2008) tend to be more dramatic than Sunday Beauty Queen, the documentary offers a light and more relatable take on the current situation of the OFWs.
It is no surprise that Sunday Beauty Queen, the first ever documentary to be included in the Metro Manila Film Festival, was awarded as this year’s winner for Best Picture. If you’re looking for a feel good movie with just the right amount of tears and laughter, this one is for you. Watch out for Leo and the rest of the characters, as they share their light and refreshing stories which will fill your hearts to the brim and surely keep you smiling all the way home.
Rating: 4.5/5