Imelda (film)

Reviews were largely favorable and it won the Excellence in Cinematography Award (Documentary) at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

Diaz followed Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, for a month and interviewed her daughter Imee and her son Ferdinand Jr.[1] The film incorporates third party interviews and archive material; it recounts Imelda's life, including her marriage to her husband, Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

[2] Discussing the Marcos presidency, Imelda falsely claims that there were no human rights abuses in her country;[2] she says that her husband abolished Congress and declared martial law in 1972 to protect democracy.

[1] 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?

[4] 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.

[3][15] Variety said 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.

[17] 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.