In Suzanne Raes’s new feature doc, presented as a work-in-progress at NLWave in Utrecht, after a decade working illegally as cleaners in the Netherlands, Paul and Daniel return to the Philippines, only to find themselves struggling to rebuild their lives and to rediscover where they belong. As they face the harsh realities of starting over once more, they come to realise that their future together may still lie in Amsterdam. The film is co-directed with Filipino filmmaker Venice Atienza.
But turning that dream into reality means enduring an uncertain and painful separation. As distance, doubt, and circumstance test their relationship, they must confront the question: can their love survive everything standing between them?
“We Had a Plan is a personal love story about a gay couple from the Philippines who shape their lives and love within the possibilities offered by the global economy,” producer Ilja Roomans (Docmakers) tells BDE. “The film was made as a co-production between the Netherlands and the Philippines, and was shot in both countries, sometimes even simultaneously in the period when the protagonists Paul and Daniel were trying to keep their long-distance relationship alive.”
“The film’s theme of love is universally relatable,” she adds. “Everyone wants to be with their loved one and have autonomy regarding marriage, their chosen way of life, and the desire to have children. For Paul and Daniel this freedom is not a given. They grew up in the Philippines, where the situation surrounding the LGBTQI community differs from that in the Netherlands. Love between two men is tolerated, but it is legally impossible for them to inherit from one another.”
Roomans further underlines the “hot topic” of migration, something she believes is exploited for malign political gain, despite it being a pragmatic solution within The Netherlands, a country with an ageing population. “Paul and Daniel bring a personal perspective to the issue and give a face to labour migrants,” she stresses.
The 95/55-minute film is set for delivery before the end of the year. Roomans has secured local theatrical distribution via Cinema Delicatessen, and a Dutch broadcast deal with HUMAN, as well as local broadcast in the Philippines. “We are interested in international TV or theatrical distribution,” she adds of her strategy in Utrecht. “We feel the film could be a good fit for international TV presales…We are also looking for a sales agent, and for 2027 festivals who would like to show the film after the world premiere. We still have the international premiere to offer.”
Roomans extols the virtues of director Suzanne Raes, a heavy-hitter on the Dutch and international doc scene. Raes’s Close to Vermeer (2023) was released in the US by Kino Lorber and saw ticket sales in Germany even exceeding those in its country of origin.
“Suzanne is a great storyteller, who manages to bring complex themes across in a very personal way,” says Roomans. “The story is presented as a love story, which gives the film a light-hearted tone. At the same time difficult themes such as migrant labour and LGBTQI+ rights are addressed.”
“We Had A Plan will be positioned as a high-quality documentary,” she adds. “Suzanne Raes’s films are always of high quality; Close to Vermeer was nominated for a Golden Calf and was in the running for an Oscar® for Best Feature Documentary. This film was also very successful internationally, and has so far sold to 14 countries and screened by the BBC, among others. Her latest film Where Dragons Live premiered at Sheffield DocFest and screened at IDFA and CPH:DOX afterwards, among others.”
In We Had A Plan Raes works with the highly talented Filipino co-director/cinematographer Venice Atienza, “whose poetic and sensitive filming, and insight [into] her Filipino generation, brought this film an intimate and layered quality. The two directors were able to follow Paul and Dan over years, and earned their trust.”
Roomans further points out of the film’s core dilemma, as captured by Raes and Atienza. “The two main characters are each other’s anchor, soulmates, but over the years we follow them, they will be forced to (temporarily) part ways, which will inevitably cause sadness or estrangement.”
“We see this film as a love story set against the backdrop of an unequal and absurd world.”
