Ballot Review: Thrilling Political Drama

Ballot Review (2024) | Leisurebyte

Director: Kip Oebanda

Date Created: 2025-01-31 00:00

Editor's Rating:
4

In this Filipino film, a strong-willed and determined small-town teacher, Emmy, puts her and her loved one’s lives on the line when, during a heated election, she runs off into the jungle with a ballot box containing the last copy of the election results. Determined to protect the democratic process, and with only her wit and resourcefulness on her side, she fights against all odds to deliver the ballot to the right hands—at a horrifying personal cost.

The political thriller satire drama film has a runtime of 102 minutes and was originally released on October 16, 2024.

Ballot Review

This Philippine political drama film was originally released at the prestigious 20th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival before being released to the general audience. Gritty and unnerving, the film highlights the horrible realities surrounding the election process and questions the integrity of democracy in the Philippines. However, after watching the film, viewers can draw parallels in their own country’s election process because, let’s face it, corruption is the norm nowadays.

Following honest teacher Emmy in a small town where the established norm is taking bribes to cast votes, it’s interesting watching how one person’s determination to see right is done is nothing short of moving. However, kudos are only to the fantastic Marian Rivera who steals every frame she is in. The resolution and determination that Emmy possesses come out in every moment of Rivera’s performance, along with giving off a calming and nurturing aura. Rivera is a one-woman show that makes this film what it is.

Apart from her performance, I think it would be unfair to say that the Filipino film Ballot doesn’t have its own merits. It doesn’t shy away from showcasing the horrors that exist behind the thinly-veiled niceties of political parties and subtly and unsubtly shows how messy things can get. Whether it be bribing everyone to sweep the votes in one’s favour to resorting to violence, the film highlights these aspects beautifully. Thus, when Emmy fights for her life to uphold her morals, one can’t help but root for her because everything and everyone around her feels so sold out. You want the good and just to win for once and Emmy becomes that beacon of hope.

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From political party jingles to the common person’s thoughts surrounding the electoral process, the film is mostly dark and gritty. I will, however, say that the movie’s insistence on adding small moments of humourous relief feels unnecessary and unwarranted. It probably would’ve been great to have existed as a thrilling journey rather than with a dash of humour. Either way, I won’t fault the film too much — it will give you goosebumps.

Final Thoughts

Ballot might not be for everyone but I will say that viewers who like gritty and disturbing political dramas will enjoy it to its fullest. It does a fantastic job of bringing the realities of politics to light and with Rivera as the lead, it simply can’t go wrong.

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