Republic of Pipolipinas

NETPAC Award, 2025 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

When the government threatens to confiscate her farm, Cora says she’s had enough. Renouncing her Filipino citizenship, she proclaims her land to be an independent nation: the Republic of Pipolipinas. As inspiring as her act of defiance might be, Cora is met with blank stares and eye rolls. Look, it doesn’t help that she’s known in town for some offbeat crusades, some including a farm animal she calls her son. A ragtag group does sign up for citizenship though, leading to a comedy of the constitutional sort.

Inspired by the actual phenomena of “micro-nations,” and filled with nods and winks galore, Renei Dimla’s mockumentary about democracy in dark times would be much funnier if it didn’t also tap into some harsh truths. You can take the people out of the Philippines, but can you take the Philippines out of the people? With fumbling spelling errors, half-baked ideals, and superstar Alessandra de Rossi hilariously spoofing herself, some revolutions are best not televised.

–Brian Hu