

01/01/2005
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.

Yul Servo
as Miguel

Jennifer Lee
as Tess

JC Parker
as Stella

Ronnie Lazaro
as Pablo

Bella Flores
as Manang Karing

Bituin Escalante
as Clara

Bodjie Pascua
as Cow (voice)

Boots Anson-Roa
as Doctor

Anita Linda
as Stella's Lola

Tetchie Agbayani
as Miguel's mother Lucretia

Jao Mapa
as Artist

Danny Red
as Suitor

Ricky Orellana
as Car Owner

Dennis Empalmado
as Carpenter 2

Archie Adamos
as Francisco

Raul Morit
as Raul

Gary Rada
as Foreman
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