Released in 2024, the film Balota, despite its retrospective story set in the mid-2000s, makes the continued political turmoil of Philippines the butt of its satire. Kip Oebanda’s film burrows into the underbelly of the murder and mayhem of the Philippines and zeroes in on the true victims—the common people who are sold out by the system without prior notice. It is an invitation for the people to drive out the capitalist vermin and a reminder that no battle is possible without sustained efforts.

Spoiler Alert

What is the film about?

In Salvador Bendicto, Philippines, as the election for mayor knocks on the door, the municipal precinct becomes internally two-colored along the lines of allegiance to the respective candidates. On one side, blue signifies the former adult model, Edraline, as the mayor, and the other side denotes orange as the political color for Mayor Hidalgo. They try to gain loyalty through bloated rhetoric,...