Anna Daniels
The Monkey Suit Manifesto: Nina Conti Embraces the Whimsical Chaos—and We’re All In!
“We’re leaving behind our past lives, shredding the path ahead, and creating a delightful mess!” declares a woman in a monkey costume, before jumping into an Airstream with an unfamiliar face. If that statement scrambled your brain, Sunlight‘s trailer is only warming up.
Nina Conti—the British comedian and ventriloquist-turned-director—has just unveiled the most eccentric trailer of 2025, leaving film enthusiasts, festival lovers, and devoted fans of Napoleon Dynamite buzzing with excitement.
Why This Film Stands Out in the Indie Realm (Potential Cult Classic Alert)
Indeed, the indie comedy genre follows a familiar formula: add a ukulele to awkward exchanges, sprinkle in some emotional turmoil, and label it wholesome. But Sunlight? This project shatters the mold entirely.
The premise revolves around Jane (Conti), who escapes a toxic relationship and transforms herself inside a literal monkey suit. Along her journey, she teams up with Roy (Shenoah Allen), a despondent radio DJ, and the pair embark on an American road trip in an Airstream, pursuing a half-baked idea that feels like it originated from a sentient Reddit thread.
And unbelievably, it all clicks—somehow.
It feels akin to Thelma & Louise if instead of a stolen car, they pilfered a therapy podcast, or Swiss Army Man but swapped a corpse for a midlife crisis wrapped in a zippy primate suit.
The touch that elevates this film from mere quirkiness to “please submit this for the Criterion Collection immediately”? It’s produced by Christopher Guest—yes, the mind behind Spinal Tap and Best in Show—which all but guarantees the film’s dedication to absurd, deadpan humor.
Exploring the Deeper Narrative: British Absurdism Meets American Trauma Comedy
This film carries a rich historical context—tracing its roots from Monty Python, through Withnail & I, to the poignant comedic explorations of Phoebe Waller-Bridge if her protagonist sported fur.
Conti, celebrated for her ventriloquism and the acclaimed documentary Her Master’s Voice, morphs the monkey suit into something intriguingly symbolic: part shield, part escape route. It transcends mere humor—representing themes of transformation, identity, and the peculiar strength found in assuming a different persona for survival.
One critic described it as “a quirky yet dark fascination.” That may underestimate how profoundly Sunlight engages with themes of identity, liberation, and the essence of being recognized—particularly when you’re intentionally obscured in a costume.
According to a now-removed tweet from an attendee at the Melbourne screening:
“The audience was torn between laughter and tears. So we did both. Then we stood and applauded like strange people.”
Is It a Cult Classic or a Total Train Wreck?
Here’s the deal: Sunlight isn’t looking to be your go-to feel-good movie for a laid-back Sunday. It’s chaotic, abrasive, and uniquely strange—which may be just what the indie film scene needs at this moment.
Would you opt to see this or toss away $20? No pressure. (…Okay, a little pressure.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BggSjRE8-Q
