Billie and Emma

By: Sam Frost

This film is like a gentle hand squeeze. Set in a small town in the Philippines, Billie and Emma follows the story of two young girls on a search to find themselves. The girls are opposites, but they’re the same. They’re young and learning and growing. Billie (Zar Donato) and Emma (Gabby Padilla) have instant chemistry and their opposing personalities create a duality that singes hearts.

Billie is the new girl. She’s sent to live with her aunt and marches into school with her plaid uniform paired with short hair and old Doc Martens immediately causes head turns in the land of the girlie-girls. She’s bitter and doesn’t want to be there. Emma is the alpha female at the school. She’s in charge of assemblies and is buds with the head nun. She has a hunky boyfriend and she’s top of her class.

The girls are paired together for a school project: two parents with one baby. The baby is an egg and their first task is to draw a face on it. There’s a definite spark between the girls the moment Billie shows up at Emma’s house to work on their egg, to create a back story for their “family.” Billie draws as Emma plans. The juxtaposition between their ways of being are present in almost every scene, which makes their bond seem extra special.

Their feelings for each other happen slowly and tenderly. It goes from taking care of their egg to friendship to passing notes to lying on the floor listening to music. We watch Billie move through the motions of being distant and unattached to anyone or anything around her to someone soft and caring. She looks at Emma with increasing adoration and Emma immediately responds.

Because of the strong story between Billie and Emma the film could have easily shied away from back stories and subplots, but it doesn’t. Even the side characters are rounded and important. At first Billie’s aunt seems like she’s only there to give her a place to sleep and occasionally question her, but we watch as the two of them grow close, share special moments and learn to make living with each other a true treasure. We also are able to see Emma’s life and learn about her mother, who had her very young. It’s evident that these strong female roles help mold the young girls and lead them through hardships.

While all the actors do an incredible job, Donato’s portrayal of Billie is a deep dive into self-expression. The character is a perfect blend of shyness and self-acceptance and Donato claims this and embraces it. She manages to fully embody the exact expectation for someone of Billie’s circumstance while bringing a clear mood, style and way of holding one’s self to life for her character.

In a Q&A after the film, writer Samantha Lee said that this story came from a place of hope. She said that public moments of affection between the two girls wouldn’t be possible in the town the story takes place because it wouldn’t be safe, but she’s hopeful for the future. The film is an idealized story of what she hopes could happen. While there are many struggles, the film ultimately showcases love and gentleness. These peaceful and encouraging moments give the film a sense that better things are to come. There isn’t a clear resolution or set ending to the movie, but just a sense that everything is going to be okay. The close ties of Billie and Emma pull the audience along on this intimate adventure. It’s a must-see for anyone looking for a gentle story of first loves.