“Loyalista: The Untold Story of Imelda Papin,” a dimensional approach to filmmaking

Filmmaking in the post-modern world is a complex affair.

Societies in all parts of the globe are getting more complicated and the quotidian onscreen is also as diverse that brings out the multiverse.

Simplicity is beauty, we are told.

There is beauty as well in the complications, off and especially on-screen that makes illusions more realistic.

Linear filmmaking, though, is still applied as the approach to some filmbios like Gabby Ramos’ “Loyalista: The Untold Story of Imelda Papin” from Queenstar Film Productions.

Imelda Papin, the iconic singing star is, of course, the source of this biopic and what a wealth of information Imelda, as subjectifying the subject, has to translate in reels.

Claudine Barretto portrays Papin during her superstardom while the source herself plays the Asia’s Sentimental Songstress in her latter years in the narrative.

Because the title speaks mainly of Imelda’s political conviction and affiliation, her being a Marcos loyalist thrives in the whole story which reveals much of her involvement, emotional and otherwise, with the Marcoses, in the country and during their exile in Hawaii.

ER Ejercito tackles the role of Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. which he delivers with sincerity and idolatry while Alice Dixson breathes life to Imelda Romualdez Marcos with ease.

Gary Estrada plays the character of Bong Carreon, Papin’s late husband which the actor gives a favorable performance especially when he meets his daughter–reel (for Gary) and real–Maffi Papin Carreon in his dying days.

`As is, most of the films adapted from real life and events are bound to be one-dimensional unless poetic license is employed.

Obviously, the film consciously departs from direct references to the Marcos’ foes in the advent of the 1986 EDSA People Power revolt which lends one-dimensional treatment to the material.  BOY VILLASANTA