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Imelda

Play trailer Poster for Imelda 2003 1h 43m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Documentary filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz offers an extraordinary look into the life and times of former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos. Spotlighting her rise from one-time beauty queen to politician's wife to figurehead in her own right, Diaz -- drawing on personal accounts by Marcos and her associates as well as her political rivals -- paints a unique portrait of a woman whose well-documented extravagances often overshadowed her contributions to Philippine politics.

Critics Reviews

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Geoff Pevere Toronto Star 10/01/2004
3/5
Makes up for what it lacks in political and historical depth by providing a stunning study in the sheer imperviousness of the unchecked and over empowered ego. Go to Full Review Carina Chocano Los Angeles Times 08/19/2004
3.5/5
Mostly it's Marcos' mysterious sway over those who stood to lose the most from her power, coupled with her amazing inability to face that fact, that makes Imelda maddeningly fascinating. Go to Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe 08/06/2004
3/4
At its most acridly useful when comparing the former first lady's recollections with others' less sanguine memories. Go to Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse 01/02/2023
7.5
https://asianmoviepulse.com/2022/05/documentary-review-imelda-2003-by-ramona-s-diaz/ Go to Full Review Prairie Miller Long Island Press 05/30/2007
If the shoe fits, go for it, Cinderella might advise. But how about 3,000 pairs of them. Go to Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 08/09/2006
4/5
Imelda is not just in a league of her own, but in a universe of her own. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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11/03/2012 "People say I'm extravagant because I want to be surrounded by beauty. But tell me, who wants to be surrounded by garbage?" This is when complete madness and lunacy becomes extremely fascinating and interesting. See more 07/22/2012 This film shows a different account on the Marcos' imperial phase. A terribly funny documentary, Ramona Diaz brilliantly digs these traps for the queen bee former First Lady's word vomit. It opens eyes as well as old wounds, all the while being a highly entertaining documentary thanks to the perfumed weirdo that is Imelda Marcos. The only flaw is Imelda herself - at first the most confident even inspirational empowerment figure only to look like a total mess because of her ideology. See more 04/20/2012 It's amazing how the filmmakers show the narcissistic state of this woman simply by letting her speak uninterrupted. I love the more avante garde style of the film. See more 01/30/2012 Imelda captures the sadly humorous side of dictatorships, where with a certain friendly attitude, political smartness, and pop-culture ascetic appreciation can the masses be propitiated, even years after the regime has fallen. See more 08/16/2010 Marcos is somehow impermeable, she believed wholly in a godliness and innocence; and that is what makes this documentary a bit more unique from the rest. See more 08/15/2010 Brilliant documentary on the queen of vanity. See more Read all reviews
Imelda

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ramona S. Diaz

Director

Ramona S. Diaz

Producer

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Imelda

Imelda (2004) Imelda (2004) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Documentary filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz offers an extraordinary look into the life and times of former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos. Spotlighting her rise from one-time beauty queen to politician's wife to figurehead in her own right, Diaz -- drawing on personal accounts by Marcos and her associates as well as her political rivals -- paints a unique portrait of a woman whose well-documented extravagances often overshadowed her contributions to Philippine politics.
Director
Ramona S. Diaz
Producer
Ramona S. Diaz
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 23, 2003, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$173.8K
Runtime
1h 43m