Ace is a tall, awkward teenager who moves to an all-girls Catholic high school in the Philippines. The volleyball coach spots Ace on her first day, and invites her to try out for the team. She is initially no good at the sport and socially ostracised, but things begin to change when she falls for the highly motivated team captain, Jana, who dislikes her because she sees her as a threat. But the girls and their teammates must nonetheless join forces: not only to successfully compete in competitions, but also to face up against a more disturbing, insidious threat. Powered by authentic performances, Samantha Lee’s heartfelt film captures the resilience of the young athlete as she struggles for acceptance, and the strength of female solidarity in a society rigged against women.
Festival 2025
Rookie
Philippines, 2023
FeatureFilm
Directed by
Samantha Lee
Samantha Lee
Running time
94 mins
94 mins
Tickets
27 April 2025, 6:40 PM
BFI Southbank
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Director Bio
Samantha Lee is a filmmaker from the Philippines who advocates for better representation of women and the LGBTQ+ community in cinema. Her films Baka Bukas and Billie and Emma won various awards domestically and abroad, most notably winning the Emerging Talent Award at Outfest in 2017.
Additional info
Contains distressing themes and scenes of sexual assault.