The story of Refraction follows Chrys, a nonbinary soldier, who tracks down the Mask Figure, to avenge the death of their lover, Dante. Chrys finds the wounded and weakened Masked Figure in a field deep in the forest, triggering the memory of Dante’s death at the hands of the Masked Figure and the Imperialist army. In their sheer anger, Chrys is able fight and overpower their opponent. Upon exacting their revenge, it is revealed that their present day opponent is actually Dante, regenerated and enslaved by the Imperialist power to do thier bidding. The couple reunites with one another in grief as Dante dies in Chrys’s arms.

Refraction depicts the senseless costs of war. With the Masked Figure representing the imperialists, pillaging towns and killing the innocent, Dante and Chrys represent the colonized, forced to either be integrated into the invading power or to rise up and fight against it. The physical and emotional damage of the colonizers are irreparable and long lasting, with Chrys now having to live a changed person that has lost everything. In the same vein, however, Chrys represents the resilience of the victims to rebuild and flourish, returning to normalcy stronger and able to fight back.

The film also highlights LGBTQ+ and Asian representation. Where these two minority groups are often excluded in the industry, this film puts them in the forefront, both on screen and behind the scenes. The story also features close ties with Filipino culture, from wardrobe and costuming to the story and music.