The controversialdocumentary film on former First Lady Imelda Marcos is doing good business inthe Philippines, raking in US$300,000 at the local box office after just twoweeks. The figure was very respectable for a documentary according toPhilippine distributor Unitel Productions.

The 103-minute film, simplycalled Imelda, traces her rise from abeauty queen to the extravagant wife of the late Philippines' PresidentFerdinand Marcos as well as her dramatic downfall when Marcos' regime wasoverthrown in 1986.

Cinema-goers almost did nothave the chance to watch the film, which was originally set to open on July 7,due to a 20-day restraining order secured by Imelda to stop the release of thefilm.

The former First Lady, wellknown for owning 3,000 pairs of shoes, felt the film was an unauthorisedaccount of her life and did not give her consent for its screening.

Unitel was able to releasethe film on July 21 nationwide only after the Makati Regional Trial Courtrejected Imelda's petition for a permanent ban.

Through Unico Entertainment,Unitel has also been releasing the film in both the east and west coast of theUS since early June. The film won a cinematography award for a documentary atSundance Film Festival earlier this year.