And So It Begins
And So It Begins follows the key figures of the 2022 presidential race in the Philippines, as a nation fights for its soul.
Director Ramona Diaz presents the latest chapter on her homeland, the Philippines, as the reign of President Rodrigo Duterte comes to an end. She sets the film decades after the People Power Revolution ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his legacy of martial law. This period of violence lasted for 21 years, yet many Filipinos remember that time as idyllic. Now, Marcos’ eldest son, Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos, Jr. is the frontrunner for president.
The film offers access to key players in the months leading up to the country’s 2022 presidential election. Maria Ressa is co-founder of Rappler, an independent online news service. As a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a voice of conscience, she probes the existing political rhetoric.
Marcos, Jr. is waging an unrelenting social media campaign against his opponent, the incumbent Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo. A new people’s power movement is rising in Robredo’s name. Masses of working-class citizens praise the socially conscious attorney and perform renditions of pop songs in the streets in her honor.
And So It Begins showcases the collective joy of the resistance movement against the specter of increasing autocracy. Multiple narratives combine within this no-holds-barred campaign for the most powerful office in the land.