Set in Singapore, ILO ILO chronicles the relationship between a family of three and their newly arrived Filipino maid, Teresa, who has come like many other Filipino women in search of a better life.
The entire family needs to adapt to the presence of this stranger, which further threatens their already strained relationship. Still, Teresa and Jiale, the young and troublesome boy she cares for, soon form a bond. Their unique connection continues to develop and soon she becomes an unspoken part of the family.
But this is 1997 and the Asian Financial Crisis is starting to be felt in all the region…
Source: http://www.iloilomovie.com
What I Think
A very simple and straight-forward story. I do think that this is a story that many Singaporeans (or those who stayed here for years) can connect to. It is not a very new situation in Singapore but it is something new for a movie. Definitely not the mainstream/commercial kind of movie that includes lots of big cast, budget, actions etc. In recent years, there are many good indie short movie from Singapore. This is definitely one of them. It is no wonder why the film won Camera d’Or for best first feature film, becoming first Singaporean movie to win at prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Apart from the story plot, the production team did a great job in bringing out a good flow of the movie and leaving little (or no) traces of 21st century. Many scenes bring the memories back to me of my school days. I love the scene where the students sits in pair (horizontally), saying pledges, and even the public canning seems so familiar! (No, I am never on the receiving end!) The cast did a great job too!
Chen Tianwen, a veteran actor in local TV scene, brings out the character of a loving husband and father well. I love the scene where he wishes his wife's mother a happy birthday. So classic! I wonder why he took so long to be cast in a featured film or movie.
Yeo Yann Yann's character has lots of scenes that cannot be acted with too drastic actions, need lots of emotions and she did it very well. She brings out the struggle she faces, the dilemma she is having and feeling lost when she saw her son being close with her maid. And I am still wondering how does the scene of her giving birth in the last few minutes and the regular check-up looks so real~!
Angeli Bayani acted Teresa, the very understanding maid, in the film. I wonder how did the director managed to get such a natural actress. I have not seen her in the past but I do feel that her act as a Filipino maid is super convincing. From expression to her movement, it is a very typical maid we see in our daily life in Singapore.
Koh Jia Ler is very new to the entertainment scene. He is not very cute or the typical handsome boy which many movie like to cast, but he is very natural. This is definitely a case where talent speaks louder than looks. A very good job done by this Primary Six student.
I can't comment much on the director, Anthony Chen (haha!) but I do think this is a good film and for those who have not watch, please watch it. Not only supporting a local (Singaporean) film, but more because how good the featured film is.
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