- Welcome to Independent Lens.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
Tonight, we bring you a documentary
called And So It Begins,
which has been described as a story
that encapsulates the agony and the ecstasy
of fighting the good fight.
The fight in question has mainly two parts.
First, trying to put a stop to disinformation in politics,
and second, following a progressive candidate
trying to get elected president in the Philippines
while running against a former corrupt president's popular son
in 2022.
The campaign would prove to be tumultuous,
and as you will see you tonight,
worthy of a good documentary film.
And So It Begins is directed by Ramona S. Diaz,
who is known for making character-driven documentaries.
And there are no shortage of characters in tonight's film.
In 2020, Diaz made a film titled A Thousand Cuts,
where she followed charismatic activist
and journalist Maria Ressa
on her quest for truth and transparency
from the Filipino government
during President Rodrigo Duterte's tenure.
Ressa exposed Duterte's social media disinformation campaign.
She proved to be a charismatic leading lady for Diaz
and a warrior for change.
Ressa's journalistic efforts were rewarded
with a Nobel Peace Prize in 2021
for her efforts to safeguard freedom of expression,
which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.
Maria Ressa was the first Filipino ever to win the award,
and along with Russia's Dmitry Muratov,
the first journalist to win since 1935.
Tonight's film And So It Begins was meant to be a follow-up
to the Diaz-Ressa collaboration on A Thousand Cuts
until they met Fillipino incumbent vice president
Leni Robredo.
Robredo launched a campaign to run against former president
and sometime dictator, Ferdinand Marcos's son, Bongbong.
The two women thought this would make a fascinating film,
and they were correct,
as the presidential race brought lots of contentious drama.
Diaz is highly regarded as a filmmaker,
having had four films selected for the Sundance Film Festival.
Her previous works include
Don't Stop Believing: Everyman's Journey,
a film about Arnel Pineda, a Filipino karaoke star
who became lead singer of the band Journey,
and Imelda, a documentary
about the former first lady of the Philippines.
With her keen eye and deep knowledge
of the history of politics in the Philippines,
Diaz is a master storyteller
who showcases the resistance movement
that pushes back against the increasing threat of autocracy.
And So It Begins starts now on PBS Wisconsin,
your home for independent film.