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==Reception==
==Reception==
The film holds a 94% "fresh" rating from [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and a 69% "favorable" review form [[Metacritic]].<ref name = "Rotten" >[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/imelda/reviews/ Imelda]. [[Rotten Tomatoes]].</ref><ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/movie/imelda/critic-reviews Imelda]. [[Metacritic]].</ref> [[Film Threat]] says "a subtle change of attitude takes over the audience when watching ''Imelda''."<ref name = "Threat">[http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/5395/ Imelda]. [[Film Threat]].</ref> ''[[San Francisco Gate]]'' states the film is "fascinating and impressively balanced."<ref name = "SF" /> In its review, ''[[TV Guide]]'' acknowledges "''Imelda'' is an entertaining storyteller, vividly describing a life that became a national embarrassment and a camp legend."<ref name = "TV" >[http://movies.tvguide.com/imelda/review/137503 Imelda]. '.[[TV Guide]]''.</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' describes the film as "a devastating portrait of how power begets self-delusion."<ref name = "NY Times" >[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]]''. June 9, 2004.</ref>
The film holds a 94% "fresh" rating from [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and a 69% "favorable" review form [[Metacritic]].<ref name = "Rotten" >[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/imelda/reviews/ Imelda]. [[Rotten Tomatoes]].</ref><ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/movie/imelda/critic-reviews Imelda]. [[Metacritic]].</ref> [[Film Threat]] says "a subtle change of attitude takes over the audience when watching ''Imelda''."<ref name = "Threat">[http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/5395/ Imelda]. [[Film Threat]].</ref> ''[[San Francisco Gate]]'' states the film is "fascinating and impressively balanced."<ref name = "SF" /> In its review, ''[[TV Guide]]'' acknowledges "''Imelda'' is an entertaining storyteller, vividly describing a life that became a national embarrassment and a camp legend."<ref name = "TV" >[http://movies.tvguide.com/imelda/review/137503 Imelda]. '.[[TV Guide]]''.</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' describes the film as "a devastating portrait of how power begets self-delusion."<ref name = "NY Times" >[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]]''. June 9, 2004.</ref> The [[website]] Window to the Movies says that "though the documentary is quite polite and rule-abiding (...) a fascinating portrait nonetheless emerges mainly because one of the interview subjects is Marcos herself."<ref>[http://www.windowtothemovies.com/af2004-2.html#imelda Capsules for 2004]. Window to the Movies.</ref>


''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' gave a complex review saying: "''Imelda'' is a balanced, evenhanded film about a subject who has always managed to provoke intemperate reactions: [[Imelda Marcos]], the former [[First Spouse of the Philippines|first lady]] of the [[Philippines]]. Adored by her legion of supporters in the manner of a second [[Eva Peron]] and scorned by as many others as an imperious [[dragon lady]], the subject offers herself up to thorough scrutiny by documaker Ramona S. Diaz, with the not-unjustified confidence that her personal charm and persuasive powers will tilt the portrait more in her favor than might otherwise have been the case."<ref name = "Variety" >[http://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/imelda-2-1200534445/ Review: ‘Imelda’]. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. March 17, 2004.</ref>
''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' gave a complex review saying: "''Imelda'' is a balanced, evenhanded film about a subject who has always managed to provoke intemperate reactions: [[Imelda Marcos]], the former [[First Spouse of the Philippines|first lady]] of the [[Philippines]]. Adored by her legion of supporters in the manner of a second [[Eva Peron]] and scorned by as many others as an imperious [[dragon lady]], the subject offers herself up to thorough scrutiny by documaker Ramona S. Diaz, with the not-unjustified confidence that her personal charm and persuasive powers will tilt the portrait more in her favor than might otherwise have been the case."<ref name = "Variety" >[http://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/imelda-2-1200534445/ Review: ‘Imelda’]. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. March 17, 2004.</ref>

Revision as of 14:40, 8 January 2014

Imelda
Directed byRamona S. Diaz
Starring
Production
company
CineDiaz
Release date
CountryPhilippines
LanguagesTagalog, Filipino, English
Box office$200,992

Imelda is a 2003 documentary film about Imelda Marcos directed by Ramona S. Diaz.

Synopsis

Diaz followed Imelda for a month and also interviews her daughter, Imee, and son Ferdinand, Jr..[1]

Throughout the film, First Lady Imelda states in interviews that the reason why her husband abolished Congress and declared Martial Law in 1972 was "because he so valued the idea of democracy."[1] She explains that "she needed to possess such a lavish wardrobe because it inspired the poor to dress better."[1] She also says that "she attempted to increase the cultural lives of the Filipino population by building huge galleries and theaters."[1]

Imelda in 2006.

Imelda claims that she had met Douglas MacArthur during his landing in Tacloban at the end of World War II who eventually insisted that she should perform for the singer Irving Berlin.[2] She sang "God Bless the Philippines" and, when she was asked by Berlin, she said , "what's the difference between America and the Philippines?"[2]

The assassination attempt against Imelda and the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. are featured in the film.[3] Footage from parties held by the Marcos couple also appear including one held in a yacht where George Hamilton is quoted as saying "I can't give you anything but love, Imelda."[2]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, and had its North American premiere in the documentary competition of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival,[4] where it won the Excellence in Cinematography Award Documentary.[4] The film was also screened within Maryland Film Festival in Baltimore, where Diaz resides.[4]

Reception

The film holds a 94% "fresh" rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a 69% "favorable" review form Metacritic.[5][6] Film Threat says "a subtle change of attitude takes over the audience when watching Imelda."[1] San Francisco Gate states the film is "fascinating and impressively balanced."[2] In its review, TV Guide acknowledges "Imelda is an entertaining storyteller, vividly describing a life that became a national embarrassment and a camp legend."[7] The New York Times describes the film as "a devastating portrait of how power begets self-delusion."[8] The website Window to the Movies says that "though the documentary is quite polite and rule-abiding (...) a fascinating portrait nonetheless emerges mainly because one of the interview subjects is Marcos herself."[9]

Variety gave a complex review saying: "Imelda is a balanced, evenhanded film about a subject who has always managed to provoke intemperate reactions: Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines. Adored by her legion of supporters in the manner of a second Eva Peron and scorned by as many others as an imperious dragon lady, the subject offers herself up to thorough scrutiny by documaker Ramona S. Diaz, with the not-unjustified confidence that her personal charm and persuasive powers will tilt the portrait more in her favor than might otherwise have been the case."[10]

Despite making only $200,992 in the United States,[11] it was considered as a smash hit in the Philippines where it earned more than Spiderman 2 in theaters in spite of an initial ban.[12]

References