“We Had a Plan,” a documentary directed by Suzanne Raes and co-directed by Venice De Castro Atienza, follows a gay Filipino couple navigating their return to the Philippines after spending a decade working as undocumented cleaners in the Netherlands. The film has been picked up for international distribution by Paris-based Cat&Docs in advance of its world premiere at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, scheduled for Nov. 12-22. The project is also in contention for IDFA’s Best Dutch Film Award.
The documentary centers on Paul and Daniel, who arrive back in their home country with their accumulated savings and optimistic plans for their future. However, as their financial resources gradually deplete and they encounter restrictions related to their status as a gay couple, their relationship faces mounting pressures. The film examines how global disparities in wealth, social security systems, and acceptance of LGBTQ individuals create challenges for the protagonists.
Raes characterized the work as a bittersweet love story that highlights the sacrifices made by migrant workers and brings visibility to an often-overlooked population. De Castro Atienza, herself a Filipino filmmaker who has lived abroad, emphasized the film’s exploration of the difficult choices faced by migrants deciding between leaving to support family members and remaining to build personal relationships. Cat&Docs leadership cited the film’s combination of intimate storytelling, human perspective, and social commentary as reasons for acquiring it.
Raes has previously directed “Close to Vermeer” (2023) and “Where Dragons Live” (2024), with the latter earning a BAFTA Scotland nomination. De Castro Atienza’s debut feature, “Last Days at Sea” (2021), premiered at the Berlinale and screened at multiple international festivals. The production involved Docmakers in the Netherlands, Daluyong Studios in the Philippines, and Svemirko Film Productions, with Cinema Delicatessen handling theatrical distribution in the Netherlands.
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