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Imelda(film)

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Imelda
Directed byRamona S. Diaz
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyFerne Pearlstein
Edited byLeah Marino
Music by
Production
company
Big Swing Productions
Distributed byUnitel Pictures
Release date
Running time
103 minutes
Countries
  • Philippines
  • United States
Languages
  • Filipino
  • English
Box officeUS$500,992 (worldwide)

Imeldais a 2003documentary filmco-produced and directed byRamona S. Diazabout the life ofImelda Marcos,formerFirst Lady of the Philippines.Beginning with her childhood, the film documents her marriage to futurePresident of the PhilippinesFerdinand Marcos,her rule under the dictatorship, her exile inHawaiiand her eventual return to the Philippines.

Reviews were largely favorable and it won theExcellence in Cinematography Award (Documentary)at the2004 Sundance Film Festival.ImeldaoutsoldSpider-Man 2in the Philippines, but only tookUS$200,992at the US box office with an additionalUS$300,000worldwide. Reviews from critics are favorable with a 94% fresh rating fromRotten Tomatoesand a 69/100 fromMetacritic.

Synopsis

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Diaz followedImelda Marcos,the formerFirst Lady of the Philippines,for a month and interviewed her daughterImeeand her sonFerdinand Jr.[1]The film incorporates third party interviews and archive material; it recounts Imelda's life, including her marriage to her husband, Philippine dictatorFerdinand Marcos.[2]Discussing the Marcos presidency, Imelda falsely claims that there were nohuman rights abuses in her country;[2]she says that her husband abolishedCongressand declaredmartial lawin 1972 to protect democracy.[1]She says that she took 3,000 pairs of shoes with her when she went into exile, and justifies her extravagant clothing by saying that it "inspired the poor to dress better".[1]She also says that she had enormous museums and theaters constructed to enrich the lives of Filipinos.[1]

Imelda says in one vignette that she had met United States ArmyGeneralDouglas MacArthurduring his landing inTaclobanat the end ofWorld War II,and that McArthur insisted that she should perform for the composerIrving Berlin,She sang "God Bless the Philippines"and when Berlin asked her why she sang the lyrics incorrectly she said," what's the difference between America and the Philippines? "[3]The assassination attempt on Imelda and theassassination of Benigno Aquino Jr.are featured in the film.[4]Footage from parties held by the Marcos couple, including one during which actorGeorge Hamiltonsang "I can't give you anything but love, Imelda", are also used in the film.[3]

Release and reception

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Imelda Marcos in 2006

Imeldahad its world premiere at theInternational Documentary Film Festival Amsterdamand its North American premiere in the documentary competition of the 2004Sundance Film Festival,where it won theExcellence in Cinematography Award Documentary.[5]The film was also screened at theMaryland Film FestivalinBaltimore.

American actor and producerKyra Sedgwickand her production company, Big Swing Productions, produced the film along with American writer, publisher and producer Meredith Bagby and Valerie Stadler.[6][7]

Critical reviews were mostly favorable.[8][2][9][10]The film has a 94% fresh rating fromRotten Tomatoesand a 69/100 fromMetacritic.[11][12]The websiteFilm Threatcommended the film's treatment of the subject's flaws because it "allows her to describe them herself";[1]TV Guidecalled Imelda "an entertaining storyteller".[13]The New York Timessaid the film is "a devastating portrait" and equates the theme ofImeldawith that of delusion and power.[14]TheSan Francisco Chroniclesaid it was "spellbinding".[3]

Both theChronicleandVarietyconsider the film balanced and even-handed.[3][15]Varietysaid that Imelda—who has been accustomed to public attention since her teenage years, was convinced that her charm and charisma would create a more favorable impression in the film than might otherwise be expected. It said that "her defenses of her husband and his regime are obviously filled with rationalizations and obfuscations".[15]Other reviewers were more scathing,[1]or note her distorted reality and the many contradictions with which she lives.[3][15]

The film tookUS$200,992at the box office in the United States.[16]Outside the US, the film received box office revenue ofUS$300,000.[17]

In the United States, the film was shown onPublic Broadcasting Service(PBS) as part of its documentary television seriesIndependent Lenson May 10, 2005.[18][19]

Philippine release

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The film was scheduled to be screened in the 2004Cinemanila film festival[20]and on Philippine theaters in July 7, 2004, five days after Imelda Marcos's 75th birthday.[21]On June 16, Marcos filed suit against the distributor of the film to block its distribution.[22]Marcos contends that she was never informed that the interviews would be used in a documentary and never gave permission for the footage to be used in a commercial film. In a statement, she says:[22]

All our lives, President Ferdinand Marcos and I were deeply committed to God, country and the Filipino people, but we are portrayed by the unauthorized 'Imelda' documentary with malice, inaccuracy and innuendos.

Marcos obtained atemporary restraining orderon June 25 to stop the film's release[21]but the petition to ban the film was denied on July 12, when the court stated that, contrary to her claims, Marcos had signed a document permitting the release of the film.[23]The restraining order lapsed the following day, and it was able to be shown in the film festival which was extended from July 12 to July 20 to accommodate other films that were not shown during its original schedule, besidesImelda.[24][20]When the injunction was canceled and the film was released, it earned more thanSpider-Man 2and was considered a smash hit.[2]

The film was premiered on television throughTV5on February 24, 2009 and later re-aired onGMA News TVon October 5, 2014.[25][26]

On February 1, 2022, the film's director Ramona Diaz made the film available for streaming online onYouTube.[27][28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefVonder Haar, Pete (January 28, 2004)."Imelda".Film Threat.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  2. ^abcdBurr, Ty (August 6, 2004)."A walk in the shoes of Imelda Marcos".The Boston Globe.Archivedfrom the original on December 29, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  3. ^abcdeStein, Ruthe (June 11, 2004)."FILM CLIPS / Also opening today".San Francisco Chronicle.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  4. ^"'Imelda': Don't Cry for Her ".The Washington Post.July 16, 2004. Archived fromthe originalon December 11, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  5. ^Keen, Adam (October 1, 2004).Film Review 2004–2005: The Definitive Film Yearbook.Reynolds & Hearn.ISBN9781903111871.
  6. ^Berger, Laura (December 14, 2018)."Kyra Sedgwick Launches Production Company, Announces Film and TV Slate".WomenAndHollywood.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 14, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  7. ^"Imelda (2003)".Radio Times.Archived fromthe originalon February 14, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  8. ^Kirkland, Bruce (December 1, 2004)."Walk in her shoes".Canoe.ca.Archived from the original on January 8, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^Keough, Peter (August 2004)."Imelda".Boston Phoenix.Archivedfrom the original on March 31, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  10. ^"Movie guide".Christian Science Monitor.June 18, 2004.ISSN0882-7729.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  11. ^"Imelda".Rotten Tomatoes.Archived fromthe originalon January 8, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  12. ^"Imelda".Metacritic.Archived fromthe originalon April 22, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  13. ^"Imelda".TV Guide.January 8, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  14. ^Holden, Stephen (June 9, 2004)."For a Regal Pariah, Despite It All, the Shoe Is Never on the Other Foot]".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  15. ^abcMcCarthy, Todd (March 18, 2004)."Imelda".Variety.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  16. ^"Imelda".Box Office Mojo.Archivedfrom the original on October 30, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  17. ^"Imelda".The Numbers.Nash Information Services.Archivedfrom the original on February 27, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 20,2014.
  18. ^"Imelda - About the Documentary".Independent Lens.PBS.Archivedfrom the original on June 29, 2022.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
  19. ^"Imelda".Independent Television Service.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2022.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
  20. ^abDizon, Nikko (July 14, 2004)."Imelda loses legal battle to block screening of film".Philstar.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  21. ^abMacairan, Evelyn."Makati RTC issues TRO vs Imelda biopic".Philstar.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  22. ^abPaddock, Richard C.; Munoz, Lorenza (June 16, 2004)."Marcos' Widow Sues Over 'Imelda'".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  23. ^"Imelda Marcos can't stop film".Los Angeles Times.July 13, 2004.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  24. ^"Cinemanila: Films you almost failed to see".Philstar.com.July 3, 2004.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  25. ^"Docu on Imelda Marcos airs on TV5 tonight, Feb 24".Philippine Entertainment Portal.February 24, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on June 29, 2022.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
  26. ^"'Imelda' documentary by Ramona Diaz airs on GMA News TV ".GMA News Online.October 1, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2014.RetrievedJune 22,2022.
  27. ^Licsi, Ayie."Here's where you can watch Ramona Diaz's award-winning Sundance film 'Imelda'".Philstar Life.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  28. ^Imelda(Documentary film). CineDiaz. 2003.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2022.RetrievedJune 22,2022– via YouTube.
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