CAREGIVER
a film by Chito S. Rono

Sarah (Sharon Cuneta), a grade school English teacher, joins the 150,000 Pinoy OFWs working in the United Kingdom to support her husband, Teddy, in making a better living for their family. More than just a chronicle of the Filipinos’ experience working as nurses and caregivers in the UK, this story also charts Sarah’s journey to self-discovery – from a submissive wife who makes sacrifices to make way for her Teddy’s aspirations to an empowered woman who finds dignity and pride in a humbling job as a caregiver in London.

The story begins as Sarah says goodbye to her familiar world. After finishing an arduous course in caregiving, she bids farewell to the Grade 5 classroom, where she teaches English. She buys a winter coat for her son Paulo and promises that he would use it once she can afford to take him to London. In typical Pinoy fashion, she shares tearful goodbyes with her whole family at the airport when she finally leaves for the United Kingdom.

Finally, Sarah arrives in London. At their small flat, she and her Teddy Teddy share a passionate reunion. With a honeymoon mood, he takes her to the beautiful sights in London. While window-shopping at a famous mall, Sarah meets Sean (Makisig), a spunky Filipino boy, as she catches him trying to shoplift chocolate bars.

After that fleeting period of excitement, she experiences the hard challenges every Filipino caregivers face every day: the icy weather, the dirty work, the difficult patients.

Meanwhile, Teddy also struggles with the daily grind in the hospital as he works in the hospital.

Despite the difficulties of adjusting to London life, however, Sarah faithfully stands by her Teddy. She tries to make the most of the situation by giving her best in her work, and in this way, earns the respect of Mr. Morgan, his wealthy old ward. However, her Teddy is oblivious to her success, as he is absorbed in his own problems with work. Sarah finds solace in her friendship with Mr. Morgan and his son David, who seems to appreciate her more than Teddy does, and with little Sean, who somehow eases her longing for her own son.

Tensions rise between Sarah and Teddy as the stress of London life takes its toll on their marriage. Because of the mounting conflicts both at work and home, Sarah’s Teddy decides to give up. He tells Sarah that they are going back to the Philippines.

Sarah finds it very hard to accept her Teddy’s decision. She knows that staying in London is the best thing for their family, because returning to the Philippines would only mean going back to the same problems they had before. Will Sarah choose to remain by her Teddy’s side to keep her family intact? Or will she find the strength to stay in London to continue seeking a better life for her son, even if it means losing her marriage?