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
