First Comes Love: Nakabingwit

With moments of levity and plenty of heart, First Comes Love: Nakabingwit follows three Filipinas and their white partners as they navigate the complexities of race, identity, and communication within their relationships. Across Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto, intimate conversations about family, privilege, culture, and belonging reveal that love alone is not always enough to bridge lived experience. Creating a framework for these stories is director Joella Cabalu’s own personal journey, brought to life through playful rom-com-inspired recreations of the love stories she wished she had seen growing up.

Blending observational documentary with narrative storytelling, First Comes Love: Nakabingwit thoughtfully dissects how the stories of Western romance often overlook the realities of interracial relationships. Rooted in Cabalu’s longstanding engagement within the Filipino Canadian community, the film offers a compassionate exploration of the language, vulnerability, and empathy required to navigate difficult conversations with the people we love. This is a warm and deeply resonant reflection on identity, connection, and what it takes to bridge differences.

Content Considerations: Discussion of pandemic-era anti-Asian racism and its impacts on mental health and relationships; depictions of emotional distress in response to racist comments and actions. No physical violence is depicted. If you have any questions about this film and its content, please contact us anytime at [email protected].