| Director: | Kip Oebanda |
| Screenplay: | Kip Oebanda |
| Starring: | Marian Rivera |
| Cinematography: | Tey Clamor |
| Editing: | Chuck Gutierrez |
| Music: | Emerzon Texor |
| Distributor: | GMA Pictures |
| Runtime: | 102 minutes |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Language: | Tagalog |
Balota (English: Ballot) is 2024 Philippine political thriller satire drama film written and directed by Kip Oebanda. The film stars Marian Rivera as Emmy, a teacher who is thrust into a dangerous situation during a volatile local election. Assigned to the Board of Election Inspectors, she must protect a ballot box containing the final election results when violence erupts in her town. The supporting cast includes Will Ashley, Nico Antonio, Royce Cabrera, Raheel Bhyria, Sue Prado, Felix Petate, Esnyr Ranollo, Donna Cariaga, Joel Saracho, Gardo Versoza, and Mae Paner. The film was featured in the 2024 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. It was produced by GMA Pictures, GMA Entertainment Group and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
During the 2007 elections, a former sexy star and a land-grabbing tycoon are in a tight race for mayor. Emmy, a strict yet popular teacher in a small town, is assigned to the Board of Election Inspectors for her local precinct. When violence erupts, she runs into the forest with a ballot box containing the last copy of the election results. Armed only with her resourcefulness, courage and wit, she tries to outmaneuver the goons who want the elections to fail. Her loved ones and community are caught in the crossfire as she pays an increasingly steep price for defending the democratic process.[1]
After directing Liway (2018), and Bar Boys (2017), Oebanda also helmed this project.[3] [4] The film stars Marian Rivera as Emmy, a teacher responsible for safeguarding a crucial ballot box during a politically charged crisis. Oebanda praised Rivera for her profound emotional range and commitment to the role. He first considered Rivera for the film after watching her performance in a pandemic-era rendition of Himala, directed by her husband Dingdong Dantes.[5] Despite initial concerns about Rivera’s availability due to her busy schedule, a successful script reading and shared political perspectives led to her agreement to join the project. Rivera stated that she did not want to use a body double in her role in the film. She also dismissed concerns about potential injuries, noting that the adrenaline and focus required for acting made her forget about the risk of getting hurt. She believed that if she focused on the possibility of injury, it would negatively impact her performance.[6] Actor, Will Ashley, who plays Enzo in the film, is also part of the cast.[7]
Oebanda expressed that while the corruption of the electoral system is a longstanding issue, it doesn’t have to be inevitable. He highlighted the prevalence of violence in Philippine elections, including poll officials being murdered, widespread vote-buying, and corrupt state forces.[8] "We made a film about people who are sick and tired of having the rich and powerful take their power and voice away from them", Oebanda stated. He also referenced the silent martyrs, such as teachers Nellie Banaag and Filomena Tatlonghari, who died defending the ballot box.[9]
The film features social media personalities Felix Petate known for as Sassa Gurl and Esnyr Ranollo, recognized for his role in Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme (2023). Oebanda's casting choices reflect a desire to question traditional political narratives and highlight the contributions of women and LGBTQ+ individuals in political activism.[10] The film is co-produced by GMA Pictures, GMA Entertainment Group, and Film Development Council of the Philippines. In addition to Rivera, the supporting cast includes Royce Cabrera, Nico Antonio, Raheel Bhyria, Sue Prado, Joel Saracho, Gardo Versoza, Mae Paner, and commedianne, Donna Cariaga.[11]
The film's official teaser was released on July 5, 2024, providing an initial look at the film.[12] The official poster was revealed on July 12, 2024.[13] The 30-seconds official trailer was released on July 22, 2024.[14]
After a week of festival run, the film was revealed to be one of the top two performing films in terms of ticket sales, and was given additional screenings by the Cinemalaya organization.[15]
Critical reception for the film is generally positive. According to review aggregator site Kritikultura, the film has received a score of 72/100 based on 14 reviews, indicating a favorable reception.[16]
Stephanie Mayo of the Daily Tribune reviewed Balota as part of her coverage of Cinemalaya films. She praised Rivera for her committed portrayal of Teacher Emmy, a character who stands up for what is right while handcuffed to a ballot box. However, Mayo criticized the film’s comedic and theatrical elements, However, Mayo criticized the film’s comedic and theatrical approach, which she felt weakened its potential for strong, impactful commentary. She described the film as aiming for crowd-pleasing rather than delivering a subtle and effective message, ultimately giving it a 2 out of 5 stars rating.[17]
Philbert Dy of Letterboxd praised Rivera’s performance, calling her the best part of the movie. He described her character as bold and righteous, noting that Rivera acts as the film's moral center while engaging in defiant and provocative behavior. Dy suggested that Rivera’s role makes her the hero the film—and perhaps even the nation—needs.[18] Writing for Spot.ph, Dy noted that the film touches on widely accepted issues: flawed elections, a lack of good candidates, and the positive role of teachers. The review criticized the film’s approach to political satire as toothless, stating that it reiterates known points without adding depth. However, as mainstream entertainment, it could be seen as edgy. He praised Rivera's performance, describing her as the film's fun and profane moral center, playing a whirlwind of a woman who is not afraid to flip people off or yell at them.[19]
Actor, John Arcilla praised Rivera's performance in the film, calling it "such an admirable act". He commends Rivera's talent and significant contribution to the film, noting her role as a standout element in the production.[20]
Society of Filipino Film Reviewers included the film in their top three films for the festival, with an average rating of 3.63 out of 5 stars rating.[21]