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Imelda (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Imelda' is a 2003 documentary film directed by Ramona S. Diaz about the life of Imelda Marcos, former First Lady of the Philippines. Beginning with her childhood, the film documents her marriage to future President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, her rule under the dictatorship, her exile in Hawaii and her eventual return to the Philippines.
Reviews were largely favorable and it won the Excellence in Cinematography Award Documentary award at Sundance Film Festival in 2004. 'Imelda' outsold 'Spider-Man 2' in the Philippines, but only took at the US box office with an additional worldwide. Reviews from critics are favorable with a 94% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a 69/100 from Metacritic.
Synopsis
Diaz followed Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, for a month and interviewed her daughter Imee and her son Ferdinand, Jr. The film incorporates third party interviews and archive material; it recounts Imelda's life, including her marriage to her husband, Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Discussing the Marcos presidency, Imelda falsely claims that there were no human rights abuses in her country; she says that her husband abolished Congress and declared martial law in 1972 to protect democracy. 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". She also says that she had enormous museums and theaters constructed to enrich the lives of Filipinos.
Imelda says in one vignette that she had met United States Army General Douglas MacArthur during his landing in Tacloban at the end of World War II, and that McArthur insisted that she should perform for the composer Irving 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?"[http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-CLIPS-Also-opening-today-2714685.php#page-3 Film clips / Also opening today]. 'San Francisco Chronicle'. Published on June 11, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. The assassination attempt on Imelda and the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr. are featured in the film.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51840-2004Jul15.html 'Imelda': Don't Cry for Her]. 'The Washington Post'. Published on July 16, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. Footage from parties held by the Marcos couple, including one during which actor George Hamilton sang "I can't give you anything but love, Imelda", are also used in the film.
Release and reception
'Imelda' had its world premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and its North American premiere in the documentary competition of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Excellence in Cinematography Award Documentary. The film was also screened at the Maryland Film Festival in Baltimore.
American actor and producer Kyra Sedgwick and her production company, Big Swing Productions, produced the film along with American writer, publisher and producer Meredith Bagby and Valerie Stadler.
Critical reviews were mostly favorable.[http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Reviews/I/Imelda/2004/10/01/753227.html Walk in her shoes]. Canoe.ca. Published on December 1, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014.[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700003703/Imelda.html Imelda]. 'Deseret News'. Published on December 2, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014.[http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/movies/trailers/documents/04031643.asp Short Reviews: Imelda] . 'The Phoenix'. Published on August 612, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014.[http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0618/p14s01-almo.html Movie guide]. 'Christian Science Monitor'. Published on June 18, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. The film has a 94% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a 69/100 from Metacritic.[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/imelda/reviews/ Imelda]. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on January 8, 2014.[http://www.metacritic.com/movie/imelda/critic-reviews Imelda]. Metacritic. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. The website 'Film Threat' commended the film's treatment of the subject's flaws because it "allows her to describe them herself";[http://filmthreat.com/uncategorized/imelda/ Imelda]. 'Film Threat'. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. 'TV Guide' called Imelda "an entertaining storyteller".[http://movies.tvguide.com/imelda/review/137503 Imelda]. 'TV Guide'. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. 'The New York Times' said the film is "a devastating portrait" and equates the theme of 'Imelda' with that of delusion and power.[http://movies2.nytimes.com/2004/06/09/movies/09MARC.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1389171396-/7gkQ6VPu8tcFczLldDQ5g For a Regal Pariah, Despite It All, the Shoe Is Never on the Other Foot]. 'The New York Times'. Published on June 9, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. The 'San Francisco Chronicle' said it was "spellbinding".
Both the 'Chronicle' and 'Variety' consider the film balanced and even-handed.[https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/imelda-2-1200534445/ Review: Imelda]. 'Variety'. Published on March 17, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. 'Variety' said that Imeldawho 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". Other reviewers were more scathing, or note her distorted reality and the many contradictions with which she lives.
The film took at the box office in the United States.[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=imelda.htm Imelda]. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. In the Philippines, Imelda obtained a temporary injunction that prevented it being shown for a brief time. When the injunction was canceled and the film was released, it earned more than 'Spider-Man 2' and was considered a smash hit.[http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2004/08/06/a_walk_in_the_shoes_of_imelda_marcos/ "A walk in the shoes of Imelda Marcos"]. 'The Boston Globe'. Published on August 6, 2004. Retrieved on January 8, 2014. Outside the US, the film received box office revenue of .
In the United States, the film was shown on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) as part of its documentary television series 'Independent Lens' on May 10, 2005.
Although the film was banned at movie theaters in the Philippines, the film was premiered on television through TV5 on February 24, 2009 and later re-aired on GMA News TV on October 5, 2014.
On February 1, 2022, the film's director Ramona Diaz made the film available for streaming online on YouTube.
See also
* 'Batas Militar' - a 1997 television documentary film about martial law under Ferdinand Marcos
* 'The Kingmaker' - a 2019 documentary film directed by Lauren Greenfield
*List of banned films
*List of films about martial law under Ferdinand Marcos
References
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