Bona

Year: 1980

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: Tagalog

Director: Lino Brocka

Drama

Bona, a young middle‑class Filipino, abandons high school to chase after Gardo, a struggling actor in low‑budget movies. Her father, furious at the decision, throws her out of the house. She moves in with Gardo expecting romance, only to be reduced to a domestic worker and forced to tolerate his constant affairs.

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Timeline & Setting – Bona (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Bona (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Philippines – urban slums, Bona's family home, Gardo's slum dwelling

The story unfolds largely within poverty-stricken urban spaces in the Philippines, focusing on Bona's household and the cramped, water-scarce environments of Gardo's slum dwelling. The key settings—Bona's family home and Gardo's residence—are connected through Bona's frequent visits and shared responsibilities. These locations underscore social disparities and frame the characters' choices as they navigate love, obligation, and survival.

🏚️ Slums 🏠 Domestic life 🎬 Philippine cinema backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:12

Main Characters – Bona (1980)

Meet the key characters of Bona (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:12

Major Themes – Bona (1980)

Explore the central themes of Bona (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

✈️ Migration & Escape

Migration to the United States emerges as a possible escape from poverty and a means to redefine power dynamics. Wealth and status, embodied by Katrina, enable a pathway for Gardo, leaving Bona to confront a fractured future. The film presents migration as both opportunity and new displacement, showing how movement can reorganize relationships and responsibilities. The choices around leaving reflect broader themes of belonging, dependence, and the costs of pursuing a fresh start.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:12

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about obsessive devotion like Bona

Character studies of unhealthy fixation that spiral into destruction.Explore movies like Bona, featuring characters consumed by a dark, one-sided obsession. These films share a somber, claustrophobic mood and a steady narrative pace that builds to a high-intensity, bleak conclusion. If you were captivated by the grim psychological descent in Bona, you'll find similar stories of destructive fixation here.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear but emotionally complex path, where a character's initial idealization of another person leads them to sacrifice everything. As they are increasingly taken for granted or exploited, their devotion curdles into a desperate need for control, often exploding in a final, shocking act that seals their tragic fate.

Why These Movies?

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Grim dramas about exploitation like Bona

Bleak portraits of power imbalances and emotional servitude.Find grim dramas similar to Bona, which explore themes of servitude, social class, and emotional exploitation. These movies feature a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a steady pacing that builds to a devastating conclusion. If you appreciated the unflinching portrayal of a one-sided relationship in Bona, this collection highlights similarly powerful and bleak narratives.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, often from a marginalized position, entering a relationship where they are used for labor, emotional support, or status. The story documents their diminishing returns and growing desperation as their sacrifices are met with indifference or cruelty, leading to a climax where their repressed anger and pain surface with tragic consequences.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a coherent vibe defined by a grim and oppressive atmosphere, a central theme of exploitation within intimate relationships, and a bleak worldview. The similarity lies in the emotional journey of the protagonist and the film's commitment to a dark, unsentimental tone that avoids easy resolutions.

Unlock the Full Story of Bona

Don't stop at just watching — explore Bona in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Bona is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Bona Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Bona, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Bona Timeline

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Bona Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Bona

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