The Kingmaker

2019
R
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

2.7K

YOUR RATING

A documentary centering on the controversial political career of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines whose behind-the-scenes influence of her husband Ferdinand's presidency rocketed her to the global political stage.

Play trailer2:32

2 Videos

5 Photos

History Documentary Biography Documentary History

An extraordinary look into the political career of Imelda Marcos, this documentary tells a cautionary tale of a powerful leader whose questionable sense of reality divided the Philippines.An extraordinary look into the political career of Imelda Marcos, this documentary tells a cautionary tale of a powerful leader whose questionable sense of reality divided the Philippines.An extraordinary look into the political career of Imelda Marcos, this documentary tells a cautionary tale of a powerful leader whose questionable sense of reality divided the Philippines.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

2.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 14 nominations total

Videos2

Photos4

Top cast37

Edit

Imelda Marcos

Self - First Lady of the Philippines, 1965-1986

Etta Rosales

Self - Former Congresswoman

Ferdinand Marcos

Self
(archive footage)

George Bush

Self
(archive footage)

Mary Ann Bunyl

Self

Shirley

Self - Imelda Marcos' Personal Assistant

Mary Yturria

Self - Imelda's Friend

Richard Nixon

Self
(archive footage)

Beth Day Romulo

Self - Widow of Marcos' Foreign Minister, General Romulo

Ronald Reagan

Self
(archive footage)

Fidel Castro

Self
(archive footage)

Muammar Gaddafi

Self
(archive footage)

Zedong Mao

Self
(archive footage)
(as Mao Zedong)

Dovie Beams

Self
(archive footage)
(voice)

Tony Parkinson

Self - Wild Animal Catcher

Jomo Kenyatta

Self
(archive footage)

Frank Yturria

Self - Marcos' Friend

Remedios Tradio

Self - Native Resident of Caluiat Island

Director
- Lauren Greenfield
Writer
- Lauren Greenfield
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews22

7.62.7K

Featured reviews

8andrewpeterconnell

An eye opener

Highly recommend this. Like her or loathe her you can't deny the blatant pesos for politics. Watching Marcos hand out wads of cash to kids in a hospital ward in front of the cameras was as cynical as it was sickening.

I've never paid much (read: any) attention to Filipino politics but will be following along the 2022 election with interest!

9josephnueva01

Uncovering the Fantasy World of the Marcoses

Brilliant documentary. It shows how much you can do with money; it can turn lies to history.

9VoNiTo101

This is the truth

This documentary perfectly captured the experiences of the Marcos and the exploited people. It showed what it is like to live with extensive wealth and how the Marcos regime used it for political power and their self interests.

This is a must watch film for those who wish to see the Marcos' perspective on Martial Law and their countless political movements.

This documentary shows the truth, through direct interviews with the Marcoses, and it is up to you if you are going to believe it. As John Henry Newman would say: "We can believe what we choose but we are answerable for what we choose to believe.

10andrewcollins-86653

Excellent insight into vile monsters !

I love the Philippines, visited many times and my longterm gf is there. The carnage left behind from this disgusting dynasty is there for all to see today in the form of vastly stunted economic growth down to the billions of dollars embezzled by these creatures !

This documentary is wonderfully put together but leaves me sad to see a country I am so fond of suffering even today from what these two people did ! Her state of mass delusion is clear for all to see in this excellent piece of work !

8PipAndSqueak

Dark truths are there if your eyes are open

This is an incredibly well put together documentary. Imelda Marcos doesn't exactly shoot herself in the foot - she is too smart to do that, but you nonetheless get to see the realities she so flagrantly ignores whilst living in her self made fantasy world. How many billions has this power crazed matriarch squirreled away in 140 countries across the world. There are only 8 and a bit billion people on the planet and handing each one a single dollar might seem like generosity but this very much hides the manipulations of the Marcos clan. We note other world leaders seem to be in the same exclusive club as this gurning despot. Lord help us all.

More like this

6.7

Generation Wealth

7.1

The Queen of Versailles

6.8

7.9

7.4

6.3

6.3

The Hunt for the Chameleon Killer

7.1

Le Moine et le Fusil

6.5

Sweat

6.6

Les Kings de Tupelo: Jusqu'au crime

8.0

Mr. Nobody Against Putin

8.0

Jeux interdits

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Imelda & Ferdinand's son, Ferdinand Jr aka BongBong, indeed ascended to the presidency in 2022.

Quotes
Imelda Marcos: I could not only be number one first lady. I had to be a mother. I had to embrace everybody. Take care of everybody. Love everybody. Ensure that there was a solution to all their problems. And I was there totally. I was no longer mother of my family, of the first family, mother of the people here in the Philippines. After a while, I was mothering all over the world. It is more than a fairy tale, because it's really unbelievable. I gave birth to what I dreamt of, and I always got my way. Now is the important thing, so the past is past. There are so many things in the past that we should forget. In fact, it's no longer there.
[end of dialogue]