Mothers' trial

• Main Authors: Barbosa, Gabrielle Kristine Mortel, Auditor, Eron Mark Noel Dangazo, Cano, Mary Jasmine Lynelle Atanacio
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Lesbian couples > Philippines; Documentary films; Film and Media Studies; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_comm/50; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdb_comm/article/1064/viewcontent/2023_Auditor_Barbosa_Cano_Mothers_Trial_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Mothers’ Trial tells the powerful and heartwarming story of Dianne and Cai, a lesbian couple co-parenting Dianne’s biological son, Andre, for twelve years. The film chronicles their journey through the obstacles and challenges they faced in the Philippines as a same-sex couple raising a child, including family rejection, legal battles, and discrimination. The documentary also explores the impact of these challenges on Andre’s upbringing. Their story showcases the incredible love and resilience of this unique family as they navigate the struggles and triumphs of their unconventional family. The broader narrative is one of acceptance, understanding, and inclusivity, promoting the idea that families come in all shapes and sizes. Ultimately, the film aims to raise awareness about same-sex couples’ struggles in creating their own family and promote social change toward an accepting society. Through this inspiring story, viewers will come to appreciate that family love transcends gender and that love and commitment are the true essence of what makes a family. To provide a firsthand account of the family’s experiences, the proponent conducted interviews with the family members and closely followed them for a week. As the case involved a minor, ethical filming practices were strictly observed to ensure the family’s privacy and safety.