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IMELDA
by Pete Vonder Haar
(2004-01-2
2003, Un-rated, 103 Minutes,
A subtle change of attitude takes over the audience when watching "Imelda,"
Ramona S. Diaz's documentary on the life of former Philippines first lady
Imelda Marcos. At first, one almost suspects Diaz wanted to portray Imelda
as a sympathetic figure: Diaz follows Imelda's start as a beauty queen, and
interviews her childhood friends, who offer warm reminiscences of the young
woman who would go on to marry Ferdinand Marcos. Then we get to the woman
herself.
Diaz followed Imelda Marcos for a month, interviewing and filming her
throughout the country. That she was able to get Imelda to open up about
her
past so much is testament to the skill Diaz used in shielding her subject
from others she interviewed, including opposition leaders, former U.S.
Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Bosworth, and former U.S. Asst.
Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke. Their testimonials cement the fact
that the gap between Imelda's recollection of historical events in the
Philippines and what actually occurred is wider then the Gulf of Leyte.
Moreover, Imelda Marcos appears to occupy that stratum of total unreality
reserved for long-standing political figures, the über-rich, and
televangelists. Imelda maintains she needed to possess such a lavish
wardrobe because it inspired the poor to dress better. She also tells Diaz
that her husband declared martial law in 1972 and abolished both houses of
Congress because he so valued the idea of democracy.
Diaz also interviews the younger Marcos: Ferdinand Jr. (or "Bong Bong," as
he is known), who encourages viewers to "look beyond the shoes" (referring
to accounts of Imelda's 3000 pair collection), this isn't difficult to do,
because her obsession with shoes is merely symptomatic of her total
disconnect with the real world. She blithely asserts that her position is a
result of hard work, and should be possible for anyone. Meanwhile, during
her tenure as first lady, she attempted to increase the cultural lives of
the Filipino population by building huge galleries and theaters that the
vast majority of the population couldn't afford to attend.
Imelda also adheres to some bizarre philosophy called "the 7 paths to
peace," listening to which reminds one of Harland Williams' hitchhiker rant
from "There's Something About Mary."
I had my worries that "Imelda" was going to try to sugarcoat the record of
the Marcoses, and gloss over the horrible abuses that took place during
their regime. I needn't have worried, "Imelda" is eminently successful at
portraying the former first lady's flaws because it allows her to describe
them herself.
U.S. Playdate Summary
Starts Wednesday, June 9-New York City (exclusive 2-week run from June 9 to June 22)
Starts Friday, June 11-San Francisco, Berkeley, Chicago, Denver, San Diego, Honolulu/Aiea
Starts Friday, June 25-Los Angeles/ Cerritos
August/ September-Seattle, Atlanta, St. Louis, Boston
NEW YORK CITY-OPENS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9
Film Forum Theatre
Daily Showtimes: 1:00, 3:15, 5:45, 7:50, 10:00
Address: 209 West Houston St. (off 6th Avenue)
New York, NY (downtown Manhattan)
Take #1 or # 9 train to Houston St. (within the block)
Or take A/B/C/D/E/F/V to West 4th St. (2 blocks)
Tickets are $10 / Group Sales Price $5 (for 12 or more)
Buy tickets in advance starting June 2
Online at www.filmforum.com
Film Forum, ph: 212-727-8110, 212-627-2035
For more info, call Unico: 646-435-9431, [email protected]
SAN FRANCISCO-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Landmark Lumiere Theatre
1572 California St. at Polk
San Francisco, CA 94109
Ph 415-267-4893 www.landmarktheatres.com
(Official Selection, San Francisco Asian International Filmfest 2004)
BERKELEY-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Landmark Shattuck Cinemas
2230 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley CA 94704
Ph 510-464-5990 www.landmarktheatres.com
SAN DIEGO-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Landmark La Jolla Village Cinemas
8879 Villa La Jolla Drive
San Diego CA
Ph 619-819-0236 www.landmarktheatres.com
CHICAGO-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Landmark Century Centre Cinemas
2828 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL
Ph 773-509-4949 www.landmarktheatres.com
DENVER-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Landmark Chez Artiste Cinema
4150 E. Amherst Avenue
Denver CO
Ph 303-352-1992 www.landmarktheatres.com
(Opening Night Selection, Denver Asian International Film Festival 2004)
HONOLULU/ AIEA-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Pacific Consolidated Pearl Ridge West 16 Cinemas
Pearl Ridge Center Phase 2
98-1005 Moanalua Rd., Aiea Hawaii
Ph 808-593-3000 www.consolidatedcinemas.com
LOS ANGELES-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 25
Landmark Westside Pavilion Theatre
10800 Pico Blvd. at Overland Drive
West Los Angeles CA 90064
Ph 310-281-8223 www.landmarktheatres.com
(Official Selection/Competition, IFP Los Angeles Film Festival 2004)
L.A. / CERRITOS-OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 25
Regal Edwards Cerritos 10
12761 Towne Centre Drive
Cerritos CA
Ph 562-403-1133 www.regalcinemas.com
PHILIPPINES (METRO MANILA & PROVINCES)-OPENS JULY 3
(theaters to be announced soon)
SEATTLE, ATLANTA, BOSTON, ST. LOUIS- OPENS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
(Landmark Theatres- to be announced soon)
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