Illusion

Set in Philippine postAmerican 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 Miguels 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