Director Reina Bonta Discusses Filmmaking and Competing in the World Cup in 'Maybe It’s Just the Rain'

      Reina Bonta, the director of “Maybe It’s Just the Rain,” approaches filmmaking like a game, yet she competes at a much higher level than most.

      Bonta played collegiate soccer at Yale University before representing the Philippines, her father's birthplace, in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “Maybe It’s Just the Rain” delves into a pivotal moment for her, her teammates, her family, and the Philippines, marking its first appearance in a significant FIFA competition.

      “I’ve played in stadiums with 60,000 people on my national team,” she shared with MovieMaker. “It feels simultaneously small and vast, like being an ant under a magnifying glass. You learn to tune out the distractions and remember you're still playing the same game that has defined your life.”

      She envisions soccer — referred to as football outside the U.S. — as a form of live performance.

      “Similar to live theatre, you prepare for a specific event – whether a tournament or a match – which occurs over a defined time and then concludes. There are no re-dos, no backtracking,” she explains. “I strive to apply that same approach to filmmaking, a medium where you can technically go back and do another take. I aim to maintain that feeling of immediacy and presence.”

      “With your team, you plan and prepare through various iterations, but once a shot commences, it evolves and takes on its own momentum. It's in motion and cannot be stopped, and recognizing that often leads to the best work.”

      The film recently screened at DOC NYC, one of the most esteemed documentary film festivals, and continues her journey in filmmaking, which also includes her directorial debut, the 2022 film “Lahi.” We spoke with Bonta about beginning her filmmaking career, her politically active family, and the intriguing role of french fries in “Maybe It’s Just the Rain.”

      **Director Reina Bonta Discusses Capturing Memories in 'Maybe It’s Just the Rain'**

      **MovieMaker:** Can you share how you became a filmmaker and created this film? I understand you were already on a filmmaking path before the World Cup.

      **Reina Bonta:** A camera has always been present in my home since childhood. My father was an avid home video enthusiast—every birthday and school play was recorded with his reliable Hi-8 camera. When I had excess energy, my parents would send me to the backyard with a camera to film. This is why I’ve cherished the tactile nature of cameras and filmmaking since I was three.

      When I attended Yale, I intended to study Cognitive Science with hopes of working in neuroscience. However, after taking a film class in my sophomore year, everything changed. I realized that my desire to understand the human condition could be better achieved through films.

      I completely shifted my focus and studied filmmaking at Yale, graduating with a B.A. in Film and Media Studies with distinction. I have balanced my two lifelong passions — filmmaking and soccer — ever since.

      **MovieMaker:** The title “Maybe It’s Just the Rain” is quite evocative — what made you choose it?

      **Reina Bonta:** Without giving away too much, voice-over narration plays a significant role in “Maybe It’s Just the Rain.” Many of those words carry a poetic, ethereal quality. I desired a title that reflected that essence and resonated with a shared experience in intergenerational AAPI families.

      I've had conversations with my Lola in which she discloses heavy or traumatic memories from her childhood during the war in the Philippines, almost brushing them off right after: “Oh, but it wasn’t that bad.” “I’m not sure why I shared that.” “Maybe it’s just the rain.”

      The film unfolds as a collection of memories, ironically reclaiming that sentiment and opening a space for sharing our family histories openly.

      **MovieMaker:** I can only imagine the pressure of playing in the World Cup in front of a stadium and global audience that cheers every success and scrutinizes every mistake. How do you handle that pressure? Does it make filmmaking seem less stressful?

      **Reina Bonta:** On my national team, I've competed in stadiums with 60,000 spectators. It feels both small and large at the same time, like being an ant under a magnifying glass. You find ways to block out the distractions and remember that you’re still playing the same game you've always known.

      I see playing soccer as a live performance. Like live theatre, you train for specific events—a tournament, a match—that occur over a designated time and then conclude. There are no re-dos.

      I find joy in translating that approach to filmmaking, where you technically can repeat takes. I always strive to keep that sense of immediacy and presence.

      In filmmaking, your team goes through many planning and preparation iterations, but once the shot starts, it takes on a life of its own. It’s in constant motion and unstoppable,