Ilusyon

Ilusyon

2005 · 100 min · ★ 1.0 · Drama

Set in Philippine post-American colonialist era, where the American influence was still apparent, Ilusyon tells the story of Miguel, a young man from the countryside, who decides to visit his father, Pablo, a Modernist painter in Manila. Upon his arrival, he discovers that his father has decided to leave for the province but he opted to stay in Manila for a vacation. One day, he meets Stella, a nude model originally scheduled to pose for Miguel's father. Struck by her beauty, Miguel does the unthinkable - he pretends to be his father the painter. Developing a relationship based on a lie, things turn for the worse as Stella begets a strange skin disease that turns off Miguel. Surrounded by strange characters - a talking cow, a talkative mailman and a nosy landlady - Miguel is driven into a frenzy realization about beauty, lust, love and being true to oneself. An ambiguous ending underlines the surreal tone of the film.

Directed by Paolo Villaluna · Written by Paolo Villaluna

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Cast

Yul Servo Miguel
Jennifer Lee Tess
JC Parker Stella
Ronnie Lazaro Pablo
Bella Flores Manang Karing
Bituin Escalante Clara
Bodjie Pascua Cow (voice)
Boots Anson-Roa Doctor
Anita Linda Stella's Lola
Tetchie Agbayani Miguel's mother Lucretia
Jao Mapa Artist
Danny Red Suitor

Make it a double feature

3h 20m together

Ilusyon

Mother Ignacia: Ang Uliran

Both from Paolo Villaluna.

More from Paolo VillalunaSee all →

Mother Ignacia: Ang Uliran

Mother Ignacia: Ang Uliran · 1998

Mother Ignacia: Ang Uliran

This is the life story of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, a Chinese-Filipina nun who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Religious of the Virgin Mary.

Pauwi Na

Pauwi Na · 2016

MovieDramaComedy

A tragic-comic portrait of a dysfunctional family and the disquieting blind faith they invoke as they dream of going home.

The Inmate

The Inmate · 2007

Set in two contrasting environments that underline the same premise of imprisonment, Selda tells the story of Rommel, a young man who accidentally kills a boy, resulting in his incarceration. Inside the jail, he befriends another inmate, who becomes his rock and protector. Seven years later, Rommel is living in the province as a farmer together with Sita his wife. Esteban tracks down Rommel in hopes of renewing a brewing love affair. Rommel and Sita welcome Esteban into their lives until their intimacy crosses borderlines and results in the undeniable scourge of self-discovery

12 Weeks

12 Weeks · 2022

After ending her toxic relationship with her boyfriend Ben, 40-year-old Alice discovers she is pregnant. With her age and current relationship status, her first instinct is to have the pregnancy terminated. As her body undergoes dramatic changes, Alice struggles and needs to decide what to do. Will she slide back into the arms of Ben? What will this mean for the child growing inside her?

Pain Things

Pain Things · 2007

Color-blind: Frank struggles to finish his documentary on the painter Benjie, whom he looks up to. He wants to become Benjie. Love is blind: He is seduced by Julia, who lives with Benjie. But Frank misses Jenny, who just left him. Heart-wrenching. Mind-boggling. What is essential is visible.

Transients

Transients · 2024

After reconnecting through a phone call, Justin, an analog filmmaker, and Grace, a frustrated poet, reminisce about the day they first met — a day that Justin tries to recreate from memory.

Holy Is He Who Earns

Holy Is He Who Earns · 2024

Holy Is He Who Earns

Left with no one following the death of their grandfather, Grasya and Armando were forced to live with the same poverty-stricken scenarios of everyday living. They woke up early to grow crops in hopes that they could harvest it and fill their empty stomachs and table. In extreme exhaustion, Armando starts to grow in curiosity of who their god is. With this question, Grasya recalls a memory that would reveal the nature of their false-god who would make them mentally deranged from bitter lives and rumbling stomachs.

Anak ng Tinapa

Anak ng Tinapa · 2005

Anak Ng Tinapa (Something Fishy) is a story about a small fish: framing up and killing small fry instead of the "big fish" in a society ruled by sharks. Two crooked cops get a kick out of framing up hapless people by planting illegal drugs on them. Unknown to these rouge policemen, a group of loony and ambitious student filmmakers is watching and documenting their every move. In the end, a brutal killing spree of individuals occurs.

Image Nation

Image Nation · 2006

Imahe Nasyon is a groundbreaking, conceptual omnibus film by 20 alternative filmmakers who were tasked to present their personal visions on national issues. Renowned line producers Jon and Carol Red hatched the idea of revisiting the 1986 EDSA revolution, challenging directors to answer the question "What happened after 1986?" with a short film not longer than five minutes each. Despite individual techniques, the same goal is shared: to depict a truthful image of the nation at present.

Walang Hanggang Paalam

Walang Hanggang Paalam · 2009

Walang Hanggang Paalam

The plot is about Maria (Lovi Poe), a 16-year old girl who elopes with her boyfriend Ryan (Joem Bascon) to Baguio. While they are in a hotel in Baguio, they meet a terminally ill tourist (Jacky Woo) who is in Baguio beause it is where he met his ex-wife who is a Filipina. Maria develops a strange relationship with the tourist and she is later torn between the love of Ryan and the older stranger she has just met. Meanwhile, Maria’s father (Ricardo Cepeda) hires a private detective named Patrick (Jake Roxas) to look for his daughter. Patrick is a homosexual who is learning to deal with the promiscuity of his lover (Rico Barrera).

ICU Bed #7

ICU Bed #7 · 2005

MovieComedyDrama

Lolo Joseph, the stubborn and loud-mouthed patriarch, whose illness tears his two daughters Cely and Beth to make a decision whether to end or prolong his life.

More Like This

Monster

Monster · 2003

MovieCrimeDrama

In 1989, prostitute Aileen Wuornos befriends and enters a relationship with a young woman named Selby. Determined to straighten out her life, Aileen's limited education lands her back on the corner. She's raped by a trick, who she kills. A string of murder and robbery follows that ultimately leads Aileen to becoming America's first female serial killer.

Fire

MovieDramaRomance

In a barren, arranged marriage to an amateur swami who seeks enlightenment through celibacy, Radha's life takes an irresistible turn when her beautiful young sister-in-law seeks to free herself from the confines of her own loveless marriage.

My Life Without Me

My Life Without Me · 2003

My Life Without Me

MovieDramaRomance

A fatally ill mother with only two months to live creates a list of things she wants to do before she dies without telling her family of her illness.

Bend It Like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham · 2002

Bend It Like Beckham

MovieComedyDrama

Jess Bhamra, the daughter of a strict Indian couple in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even though she is 18. When Jess is playing for fun one day, her impressive skills are seen by Jules Paxton, who then convinces Jess to play for her semi-pro team. Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her matches from her family while also dealing with her romantic feelings for her coach, Joe.

Monsoon Wedding

Monsoon Wedding · 2001

Monsoon Wedding

MovieComedyDrama

A stressed father, a bride-to-be with a secret, a smitten event planner, and relatives from around the world create much ado about the preparations for an arranged marriage in India.

Cléo from 5 to 7

Cléo from 5 to 7 · 1962

Cléo from 5 to 7

Agnès Varda eloquently captures Paris in the sixties with this real-time portrait of a singer set adrift in the city as she awaits test results of a biopsy. A chronicle of the minutes of one woman’s life, Cléo from 5 to 7 is a spirited mix of vivid vérité and melodrama, featuring a score by Michel Legrand and cameos by Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina.

Fort Bliss

Fort Bliss · 2014

After returning home from an extended tour in Afghanistan, a decorated U.S. Army medic and single mother struggles to rebuild her relationship with her young son.

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself · 2002

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself

MovieComedyDrama

The strange comedy film of two close brothers; one, Wilbur, who wants to kill himself, and the other, Harbour, who tries to prevent this. When their father dies leaving them his bookstore they meet a woman who makes their lives a bit better yet with a bit more trouble as well.

Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don't Cry · 1999

MovieCrimeDrama

A young transgender man explores his gender identity and searches for love in rural Nebraska.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter