Milan (2004) Poster

(2004)

User Reviews

Review this title
6 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
6/10
Disappointing film that could've been so much more
peter0723 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I'd heard good reviews about this movie so I bought the DVD while in Manila. First, the image had black bars on the sides but I fixed that by adjusted my plasma.

I was interested in the status of Filipinos who work in Italy and this movie was a good primer on that. I felt disappointed, however, at many story holes and improbable incidents. I'm sure the movie had elements from true stories of Filipinos in Italy but a few parts seemed improbable, like how he just cheated on his absent wife despite going all the way to Italy to find her. I also found it hard that he turned from a into an angry guy who throws furniture and stuff. That would raise red flags for many women.

I think Philippine movies need to get away from clichés and worn-out formulaic plots and endings to advance. I also felt the main actor was unfit for this role.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Milan, Where East Meets West!
bobbikinsreyes30 December 2004
The movie reflects the true feelings of an Overseas Filipino Workers in Italy where Filipino communities can be found. Like Chinese and Indian nationals, Filipinos can be found in almost all parts of the globe. Because Filipinos can adapt easily to any given environment. This story follows the journey of naive Lino (Piolo Pascual) as he searches for his missing wife in Italy. He comes across Jenny (Claudine Barretto), an imposing figure in the Filipino community of migrant workers, whose dreams of grandeur have clouded her need for personal relationships. In a desperate quest and game of survival, the two find refuge and affirmation in each other. What started as a mentor-protégé relationship, Lino and Jennys partnership evolves beautifully into a self-consuming love affair. Until these two are put to a test. Reality bites as the land changes everything. In the end, it matters not for Lino that he finds his wife for he has found himself. And alas, it matters not for Jenny that she sacrifices for love, for she has learned to give, in order to live again. The film is not just a mere love story. It encompasses the colorful lives of Filipinos as a global citizens of the world.
6 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Very informing!
misterphilippines31 October 2004
Here, people will understand the life of the many Filipino migrant workers of Italy.

It is a love story of a young man named Lino (Piolo Pascual)who comes to Milan,Italy so find his missing wife whom he terribly misses. In order to do this, he joins a large group of illegal Filipinos who manage to escape to Italy through the Swiss border. Arriving in Milan, he meets a young Filipina domestic helper who passes for a beautiful Italian woman named Jenny(Claudine Barretto) and asks for her help. Through her, he gets to know the way of life in Italy as a Filipino migrant worker and the discriminations he has to face from the society of discriminating Italians and Italo-Filipinos, although he fails finding his wife. As he gets used to this, he falls in love with Jenny and together they experience the sweetness of life. But as time goes by, troubles occur and they have to decide whether they really belong to each other or not.

This story, although not very masterfully made, has a beautiful and romantic plot. Dedicated to the masses of Filipino workers in Italy, this is what I can call a classic related to the Filipino migrant worker. A must see for modern Filipino romance movie lovers.
7 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Wonderful.
heygingersnap31 October 2004
I tend to stay away from Filipino movies because of the usual corny-ness and unoriginality, but I had heard from a couple friends that this was actually decent, so I decided to give it a shot.

From the very beginning, you can tell what will happy. Boy migrates to Italy, meets girl, falls in love with girl, and so on. But I think it was wonderfully displayed, though I'm not a big fan of either Piolo or Claudine [especially since Claudine doesn't even resemble a Filipino]. The movie did make me cry, though, only because I could really relate with one of the characters' emotions.

This also has great scenery as it was placed in Italy, and also shows the immigration from the Philippines to Italy, which I had no idea about before. So give it a shot; you might just like it.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
A Must See ...
GoldSunBlueMoon24 June 2004
This movie exemplifies trials and tribulations for Filipinos dreaming of that bright future in a foreign land.

The movie touches the spirit. I extend my gratitude to the characters, the director, and all who were involved. I hope to view more movies of the same content.

Rome and Venice were beautiful on screen, and the memory of my visit there remains vivid.

Personally, I believe life offers no guarantees. Nevertheless, it is not destined to be lived too cautiously, so as not to miss life's sweet experiences.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
a big letdown!!!! terribly bad!!!! SPOILER
matthew_ashley24 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
OK. so i liked some of the films that Star Cinema has produced.... and i thought, why not go see this movie Milan. The crux of the matter is... this is a bad movie. The lead character(Piolo Pascual)is so confused about his existence that his existentialist angst comes as an ABBA song (you know... can you hear the drums, Fernando?) Not only that! This movie offers a picturesque glimpse of italy (oh my god! is that why the movie was entitled Milan?) but that's it. Expect no more. What you'll get from the beginning of the film until the end is pure drivel! A guy loses his wife... he searches her out in Milan... (for the life of me i don't get this, how can you just jump the boat and just sink, sink, sink, happily sink?) and then he finds the loving arms of another Filipina who (surprise!)falls in love with him too and then just when things cannot go on any murkier, he finds his wife who is (another surprise!) a rape victim(!) and is too ashamed to go home so she rejects him and they all live miserably all together! The same goes for the audience.

I just want to puke after seeing this film.

Bad! Teribly bad!
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed