We were eager to catch “Balota” hearing so much about it, particularly lead star Marian Rivera’s performance.
That she actually won best actress for it at the Cinemalaya awards night only added to our curiosity.
We were actually skeptical at first, thinking it was one of those ejaculatory gestures given her stature as one of the industry’s more popular faces.
We were wrong.
We were finally able to watch “Balota” recently and suffice it to say, the salute was well-deserved.
As Emmy, a simple but strong-willed school teacher who goes the mile to save the last of their town’s ballot boxes, Marian showed unusual commitment as an actor, something that she hasn’t really established in past outings.
Apart from displaying superb acting dexterity shifting from sweet and lovable to feisty and forceful, Marian also showed ample flair for deadpan comedy.
That she also allowed herself to be deglamorized for the part – and to dramatic extent – added to a winning performance.
Marian admitted the film gave her a renewed sense of fulfillment as an actor.
“Hindi ko mapaliwanag ‘yung pakiramdam ko after kong matapos ‘yung ‘Balota,’ parang palagi kong sinasabi lalo na sa asawa ko na, alam mo ‘yung ang tagal ko sa showbiz pero parang bumalik ulit ‘yung fulfillment ko sa sarili ko sa paggawa ng trabaho,” she said.
As to winning an award for her performance as Teacher Emmy, she wrote on social media, “Posible pa pala. Pero higit sa award, ang regalong natanggap ko ay ang muling pagliyab ng aking pagmamahal sa paggawa ng pelikula, dahil sa inspirasyong ibinigay sa akin ng Cinemalaya community.”
Prior, Marian was one of the recipients of the “Box-Office Heroes” award at the 7th Eddys (The Entertainment Editors’ Choice) Awards.
She was also recognized as one of the “Box Office Phenomenal Stars of Philippine Cinema” opposite Dingdong Dantes by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
She was named “Takilya Queen” at the 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies and took home the “Bida ng Takilya Award” at the 2024 FAMAS Awards.
She won “Best Film Actress” at the 2024 Platinum Stallion National Media Awards and “Movie Actress of the Year” at the 5th Village Pipol Awards.
The film itself was actually quite absorbing, magnifying the ludicrousness given to local politics in a tone both sardonic and humorous.
But we wonder if the mirth might have been a tad too much.
We do hope many would still be able to grasp the film’s core message particularly with elections just around the corner.
Anyway, kudos to the attention-grabbing actors that portrayed the colorful characters surrounding Marian’s Emmy including Gardo Versoza, Will Ashley, Sassa Gurl, Esnyr Ranollo, Donna Cariaga, Royce Cabrera, Raheel Bhyria, Nico Antonio, Joel Saracho, Sue Prado, and Mae Paner.
Produced by GMA Pictures, GMA Entertainment Group in cooperation with Cinemalaya, “Balota” hits cinemas Oct. 16.
