Sunlight (PG) |Close-Up Film Review

As well as co-writing and starring, Sunlight is Nina Conti’s directorial debut.

Conti plays Jane, who worked as nightclub mascot for her abusive stepfather Wade (Bill Wise). After her mother’s death from cancer, she ends up having a self-destructive relationship with Wade.

Jane takes to wearing a monkey costume to create a new persona and makes a bid to escape from the relationship. This is when she meets suicidal radio host Roy (Shenoah Allen), and saves him from hanging himself in a New Mexico motel room. Seeing him as a path to freedom they head to a Colorado lake where she plans to set up a banana pontoon business.

After hitting the open road, the duo soon hatch a plan that could help finance a new life but could also land them in jail. All the time they are pursued by Jane’s controlling partner, Wade, who aims to put an end to her newfound freedom.

Despite the title, some of it is dark, but the well written comedy never letting the darkness last too long. Instead, the focus is on two broken people rediscovering themselves and in the process, each other.

Sunlight has a lot to offer – A hilariously dark and unconventional love story, the banter between the characters, and even the silence is well used. Darkness and light. The scenery is also stunning.

Sunlight is a true pleasure to watch