Watching Seven Sundays in 2025: An 8-Year-Old Film That Still Hits Home

Last Easter weekend, Jhana convinced me to watch a Filipino movie on Netflix. Now, I don’t usually go for local films, but I gave in, and I’m actually glad I did. We ended up watching Seven Sundays, a family drama that originally came out eight years ago. While it’s not a groundbreaking story, it still packs a powerful emotional punch, especially when you’re watching it with someone you love.

The movie came out back in 2017, so I’m very late to the party. But despite being nearly a decade old, it still holds up in many ways. The film is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and follows the Bonifacio family. On his birthday, Manuel Bonifacio (Ronaldo Valdez), a retired barangay captain, receives devastating news: he has lung cancer and only seven weeks to live. This triggers a rare reunion of his four adult children, who each decide to spend their Sundays with him, a countdown that forces everyone to face long-buried conflicts.

Watching the family try to act normal while walking on emotional eggshells felt very real. You get the sense that even though they want to be close again, years of misunderstandings, jealousy, and personal struggles keep getting in the way. It’s not some fantasy family that magically fixes everything; they argue, mess up, and try again.

The performances help a lot in selling the story. Aga Muhlach plays the tired eldest son who carries too much responsibility. Dingdong Dantes is the successful sibling who can never seem to impress anyone. Cristine Reyes dials down the glamor to play the middle sister with hidden burdens, and Enrique Gil is the carefree youngest who’s clearly covering up something deeper. The casting is spot-on, and each of them adds something genuine to the mix.

Not everything worked for me, though. The biggest misstep? The ending. Without spoiling too much, there's a random dance number that feels totally out of place. It gave off strong 1980s and 1990s Pinoy comedy vibes, where films just had to end with a dance scene. It felt silly and undermined some of the emotional depth built throughout the movie. Jhana thought it was cute. I cringed a bit.

Still, the film made me think. It made me appreciate quiet moments with people I love. It reminded me that time doesn’t slow down for anyone, and sometimes you only get a few Sundays to make things right. Watching it with my girlfriend probably made it hit even harder.

If you haven’t seen Seven Sundays yet, maybe give it a try. Especially if you're watching with someone who matters. It’s not perfect, but it’s honest, and sometimes, that’s more than enough.