14 Nov

17:15

Pathe Tuschinski

Reguliersbreestraat 26-34, Amsterdam

After ten years working as undocumented cleaners in the Netherlands, a male couple, Paul and Dan, returns to the Philippines to build a future, but their triumphant homecoming gives way to a sobering new reality.

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:15

Pathe Tuschinski, Amsterdam

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 13:00

Pathé City, Amsterdam

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 14:15

Rialto SILO, Amsterdam

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 21:00

Pathe Tuschinski, Amsterdam

Sun, 22 Nov 2026 12:45

Pathe Tuschinski, Amsterdam

We Had a Plan

More info & tickets

Queer Interest

This documentary is, in the words of its subjects, first and foremost a love story between two men, Paul and Dan. It follows their shared journey and touches on themes of migration, poverty, invisible labor, and LGBTQ+ acceptance as they navigate bureaucratic and emotional obstacles to build a simple life together.

Synopsis

Paul and Dan worked seven days a week as undocumented cleaners in the Netherlands. After ten years, the couple returns to the Philippines to continue building a future together. Their triumphant homecoming—as men who have made good—soon gives way to the sobering reality of everyday life.

After ten years away, Dan returns to his job as a nurse, working twelve-hour shifts for low pay. Paul has a hard time setting up his construction business, and their savings begin to run out. They face a difficult choice. Dan’s profession offers them a chance to return legally to the Netherlands, but that path is also long and strewn with bureaucratic and emotional obstacles. Is their love strong enough to withstand that?

The journey taken by the emotional Paul and the reserved Dan toward their shared dream of just living “a simple life” touches on themes ranging from migration to LGBTQ+ acceptance, poverty, invisible labor, and elder care. But above all, as they themselves emphasize, it is a love story.