The movie of simplicity, showcase of life, it's struggles and the humanities that come along with it, Ilo Ilo is deeply intimate and reflective movie and also serves as snapshot of Singapore during economic crisis in the late 20th Century. As we follow three family members and their Filipino maid through their different stories it never become boring and more so without resorting to being dramatic it goes into some heavy corners like: unemployment, depression and immigration. This is very calm movie and has no plot (but not exactly in the style of Ozu either) and I like it, that is life! Everything we are feeling, witnessing and going through are in the middle of the birth and death and then comes some people like Terry who we met and spent some time with and left a little of them in all of us. Beautiful, sincere and authentic.

Waktu aku kecil, mungkin sekitar kelas 5-6 SD, karena nenek-ku punya beberapa kontrakkan yg kebetulan dekat dengan rumahku pun di dukung pula oleh kegemaranku akan merawat balita, jadi saat ada yg ngontrak di kontrakkan nenekku dan penghuninya memiliki anak kecil, aku terbiasa menawarkan diri untuk mengasuh anak2nya.
Disaat masa kontrakkan habis, momen perpisahan dengan balita2 yg kurawat gak pernah mudah. Sulit untuk diterima karna aku kadung sayang sama mereka.

Di film ini, sedikit banyak megingatkanku akan hal itu. 
Hubungan antara pengasuh dan anak majikan yg terjalin di film ini tampil penuh kehangatan. 

SIANG-SIANG DI KANTOR JADI NANGIS AH INGET DULU ANAK-ANAK YG AKU RAWAT GIMANA KABARNYA YA 😭😭 i miss them so much

i was born in iloilo, and i wanted to be the one to name a film iloilo, so when i read about this when it was released, i was very suspicious - how could a non-filipino make a film with this title - how arrogant i thought.  i still think the original title (according to wiki, the chines title translates to mom and dad are not home) should have been used, and if he wanted to honor his maid growing up, idk - name the film after her?  but these are just minor quibbles because this is a good film.  hey, i can still make a film called iloilo story, right?

Such a sweet little film. The cast are all perfect and their performances make this such a likeable film. Simple story idea, but created so well It keeps you engrossed the entire time.

Ini kayaknya film Singapur pertama yang saya tonton deh.
Filmnya kerasa banget kek gambaran kehidupan sehari². Mungkin film ini lumayan ngegambarin gimana susahnya TKW pas kerja di negri orang.
Semuanya masalahnya ngumpul jadi satu. Dari tuan rumah, nyonya rumah, anaknya yang bandelnya naujubillah sama masalah si pembantunya sendiri. Tapi walaupun banyaknya problem, film ini ga terkesan numpuk. Semua masalah punya porsinya masing2 dan kerasa amat pas.
Ga banyak scoring music sehingga saya ngerasa lebih bisa pahamin maksud film ini. Dan, di akhir pas Terry-nya pulang, rasanya sedih banget. Padahal scene yang ditampilkan ga mengharu biru lebay banjir air mata tapi tetap aja rasanya nyelekit banget.
Saya juga lumayan terkesan dengan dialek singapur - english yang selalu pake imbuhan 'lah' di belakang kata. Ambil contoh saja : don't say sorry lah. It's okay lah.

Just got around to watching this gem. An immersive portrayal of growing up in Singapore in the 90s in the backdrop of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. I thought the pacing was great, with the personal arc of each main character developing nicely along the narrative. I also loved the realism in the performances, and the choice of the filmmaker to not verbose everything and allow certain actions or conflicts to be resolved naturally as the narrative flowed. It felt like a window into where real life drama unfolds, with the camera capturing the humanity and struggles of the family. An incredible debut by Anthony Chen and a film I’d definitely recommend as an entry into Singaporean cinema.

It’s a nice relatable story with solid execution and performances. It feels long because of the repetition of the middle part. The turning point of the story is unclear and we never figure how the boy got close to the maid. There are many substories that stay incomplete and their development could actually help the narrative. 
Still a solid piece to watch.

There are definitely some scenes this film gets achingly right, and the characters are very relatable and real, but the problem is that the progression from where they start to where they (especially the boy) finish is at least difficult to understand, and perhaps outright unbelievable. In other words, the direction and acting are great, but I think they’re let down a bit by the writing.

maids are really common in asia, and most of the time - with parents who are more focused in their careers and such, kids are often left with their maids. i love the simplicity and the mundanity of this movie. it tells a story i know quite well since i could relate to it. i was practically raised by my maids and nannies, and i am able to be the person i am today because of them.

this film is just so damn beautiful. you know how they say simplicity is best? well, the whole mood and emotions that this film brings just describes that phrase eloquently.

Just got around to watching this gem. An immersive portrayal of growing up in Singapore in the 90s in the backdrop of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. I thought the pacing was great, with the personal arc of each main character developing nicely along the narrative. I also loved the realism in the performances, and the choice of the filmmaker to not verbose everything and allow certain actions or conflicts to be resolved naturally as the narrative flowed. It felt like a window into where real life drama unfolds, with the camera capturing the humanity and struggles of the family. An incredible debut by Anthony Chen and a film I’d definitely recommend as an entry into Singaporean cinema.

Quiet, unassuming drama about a middle class family and their Filipino maid. I appreciated the time it gave to all 4 of the central characters, and how their problems were shared.

so cute so soft ... omg

The father gives Jaile chicks as birthday present when they're celebrating with a bucket of fried chicken. The level of irony.

i was born in iloilo, and i wanted to be the one to name a film iloilo, so when i read about this when it was released, i was very suspicious - how could a non-filipino make a film with this title - how arrogant i thought.  i still think the original title (according to wiki, the chines title translates to mom and dad are not home) should have been used, and if he wanted to honor his maid growing up, idk - name the film after her?  but these are just minor quibbles because this is a good film.  hey, i can still make a film called iloilo story, right?

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Waktu aku kecil, mungkin sekitar kelas 5-6 SD, karena nenek-ku punya beberapa kontrakkan yg kebetulan dekat dengan rumahku pun di dukung pula oleh kegemaranku akan merawat balita, jadi saat ada yg ngontrak di kontrakkan nenekku dan penghuninya memiliki anak kecil, aku terbiasa menawarkan diri untuk mengasuh anak2nya.
Disaat masa kontrakkan habis, momen perpisahan dengan balita2 yg kurawat gak pernah mudah. Sulit untuk diterima karna aku kadung sayang sama mereka.

Di film ini, sedikit banyak megingatkanku akan hal itu. 
Hubungan antara pengasuh dan anak majikan yg terjalin di film ini tampil penuh kehangatan. 

SIANG-SIANG DI KANTOR JADI NANGIS AH INGET DULU ANAK-ANAK YG AKU RAWAT GIMANA KABARNYA YA 😭😭 i miss them so much

pacing was a little weird but it was very singaporean and i appreciate that

This film makes me not want to have kids.