⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Balota, Teacher Emmy (Marian Rivera) risks everything to safeguard a ballot box filled with crucial votes as corrupt forces seek to hijack a pivotal local election. The film wastes no time diving into its heart-pounding premise, pitting Emmy, the tenacious protagonist, against a dangerous web of political violence and intrigue. What follows is a tense journey of survival and resistance, all within the context of a flawed democratic system.
Balota revisits familiar ground with a strong central performance that definitely held my attention. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the film was playing it safe, rehashing political clichés and well-worn catchphrases we’ve all seen and heard before, which left me yearning for a deeper dive into uncharted depths — viewpoints that are beyond what I already know.
Still, it’s a worthwhile rewatch, especially with elections looming in a politically divided Philippines, serving as a timely reminder of how fucked Filipino lives are — and will continue to be — in a system that refuses to change and may take years to overhaul.
Watch the movie here.