Ilusyon

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.

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