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Bayan o Sarili: Heneral Luna Film Review

Sa pagbukas ng pelikulang Heneral Luna ni Jerrold Tarog, muling balikan at buksan ang kwento ng kagitingan ng isang heneral at ng iba pang kontrobersyal na bahagi ng kasaysayan.

Hindi lubos na mauunawaan ang kasalukuyan kung hindi babalikan ang kasaysayan. Kaya sa pagbukas ng pelikulang Heneral Luna ni Jerrold Tarog noong Setyembre 9, 2015, nabuksan sa madla ang kwento ng kagitingan ng isang heneral at ng iba pang kontrobersyal na bahagi ng kasaysayan. Naging usap-usapan ng mga netizens ang pelikula at mistulang naging viral pa ang posibleng maagang pagkakatanggal nito sa mga sinehan. Muli nating hawiin ang kurtina at tanawin ang kasaysayan sa likod ni Heneral Luna.

Mapangahas at puno ng tapang ang grupo ni Direk Jerrold Tarog sa pagnanais na ibunyag ang madilim na bahagi ng kasaysayan. Ang kasaysayang kinagisnan nating mga bayani ay may kinalaman din sa kontroberysyal na krimen ng pagpatay sa kapwa Pilipino. Umiikot ang istorya sa panahon ng pananakop ng mga Amerikano at kung paano lumaban ang mga Pilipino upang hindi tuluyang masakop ng mga dayuhan at makamit ang soberanya.

Pilipino Laban sa Pilipino

“Mayroon tayong mas malaking kaaway kaysa mga Amerikano, ang ating sarili,” isa sa mga matalinhagang linyang binitawan sa pelikula na sumasalamin sa madilim na lihim ng kasaysayan. Hindi man direktang ipinakita ay tila palaisipan ang matagal nang isyu na si Presidente Emilio Aguinaldo rin ang nagpapatay kay Heneral Luna gaya nang nangyari kay Andres Bonifacio. Naging tahasan din ang pagsasalaysay ng totoong kaganapan sa pagitan ng mga Pilipino noong panahon ng mga Amerikano. Kahit sa pagitan ng mga miyembro ng militar o pulitika ay hindi nagkaroon ng kasunduan ang mga Pilipino sa pagdedesisyon.

Napapanahon Kahit Kahapon

Maikukumpara na magpahanggang ngayon ay nangyayari pa rin ang pagsisiraan sa pagitan ng mga Pilipino lalo na sa ating gobyerno. Kung sa pelikula ay makikitang pinatay si Heneral Luna ng kapwa Pilipino, ngayon ay wala pa ring nababago gaya nang patuloy nating nakikita sa mga balita at maging sa pulitika. Ang mga salitang ginamit ay nababagay rin sa modernong panahon lalo na ang mga punchline upang lagyan ng bahagyang komedya ang timpla. Bagaman makabago ang salita ay hindi nasakripisyo ang kwento at takbo ng istorya dahil sa katunayan, maging ang paggamit ng f imbes na p sa salitang familia ay kapansin-pansin din. Maging ang mga linya ay sadyang may laman na mas pinatindi pa ng batuhan ng mga dekalibreng artista gaya ni John Arcilla .

Atensyon para sa Suhestiyon

Talagang isa ang pelikulang ito sa mga maituturing na masterpiece sa larangan ng Philippine Movie, hindi lang dahil sa magandang storyline kundi maging ang cinematography . Makakakonekta ang lahat ng uri ng manonood sa ganitong klaseng pelikula dahil sa pagkakatalakay nito sa ating mga paaralan simula nang tayo ay nasa elementarya. Sadyang iba ang nakikita sa nababasa mula sa nilalaman ng libro kaya mas mainam kung sa susunod ay ipapalabas ito nang may subtitle upang masundan din ng mga manonood ang mga linyang tumatatak sa puso. Bagaman mayroon nang mga naunang pelikula patungkol sa ating mga bayani, maganda rin kung ang mga susunod na pelikulang tungkol sa kasaysayan ay gawing sequel style o tahiin ang mga istorya ayon sa pagkakasunod-sunod sa kasaysayan upang hindi nakalilito at mas madaling magamit bilang material sa pagtuturo sa mga paaralan. Noon pa man ay may kakaiba nang alab ang puso nating mga Pilipino gaya nang ipinakita ng isa sa ating mga bayani. Nakakalungkot lamang na isiping tila nakakalimot tayo at pati sa simpleng pagsuporta ng sariling atin ay mistulang mabibigo pa tayo. Sa bawat pagkakataon na iniisip natin ang ating kapakanan, isaalang-alang din natin ang ating bayan. Wala mang kapa o anumang costume gaya ng mga superheroes ang ating mga bayani ay umukit sa kasaysayan ang dugong kanilang ibinuwis. Sana’y huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan sa nagaganap sa ating bansa at gaya ng sinabi sa pelikula, “hindi panlalait ang pagsasabi ng totoo.” Kaya sa mga pulitiko, pulis, estudyante at maging pedicab driver , “negosyo o kalayaan, bayan o sarili, mamili ka.”

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Movie review: heneral luna.

Direktor : Jerrold Tarog

Taon na Pinalabas : 2015 Tauhan :

John Arcilla as Gen. Antonio Luna

Mon Confiado as President Emilio Aguinaldo

Epy Quizon as Prime Minister Apolinario Mabini

Alvin Anson as Gen. José Alejandrino

Nonie Buencamino as Felipe Buencamino

Leo Martinez as Pedro Paterno

Joem Bascon as Col. Francisco “Paco” Román

Art Acuña as Maj. Manuel Bernal

Alex Medina as Capt. José Bernal

Archie Alemania as Capt. Eduardo Rusca

Ronnie Lazaro as Lt. García

Lorenz Martinez as Gen. Tomás Mascardo

Ketchup Eusebio as Capt. Pedro Janolino

Anthony Falcon as Sgt. Díaz, messenger of General Mascardo

Nagsimula ang kwento sa pagdebate nina Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo at Apolinario Mabini kasama ang buong gabinete tungkol sa pagdating ng mga Amerikano sa Pilipinas. Ginusto nina Antonio Luna na lumaban para sa kalayaan ng bansa. Sinabihan naman sila ni Aguinaldo na tutulungan daw ng mga Amerikano ang mga Pilipino upang makalaya sa pananakop ng mga Espanyol. Sinakop naman ng mga Amerikano ang Maynila na nagsimula ng digmaan.

Nangkampanya naman laban sa mga Amerikano sina Luna kasama nina General Jose Alejandrino, Colonel Francisco “Paco” Roman, Captain Eduardo Rusca, Captain José Bernal and Major Manuel Bernal. Hindi naman sila tinulungan ng Kawit Battalion dahil hindi nangaling kay Aguinaldo ang utos. Sumama si Luna sa kampo ni Janolino at bumuo ng grupo ng 4000 na sundalo kung saan idineklara niya ang “Article One”

Sinuportahan ni Buencamino at Paterno ang inalok ng mga Amerikano na “Philippine Autonomy”, nagalit si Luna at pinahuli sila. Nagkagulo ang dalawang heneral na si Luna at Mascardo. Ang ibang heneral naman tulad ni Gregorio del Pilar ay tumungo na pa-norte. Ginusto ni Luna na bumitiw sa kanyang pwesto ngunit ayaw ito tanggapin ni Aguinaldo at Mabini. Pinayagan naman ito na magtayo ng sariling Kampo sa Norte.

Pumunta naman si Luna sa Cabanatuan matapos makakuha ng telegrama mula sa kampo ng presidente kahit na nagdududda na ang mga kasamahan niya. Nakaalis na si Aguinaldo nang dumating siya. Sumalubong naman sa kanya si Janolino, kasama ang kaniyang kasamahan. Pinatay nila si Luna. Namatay din ang isang kasama nito at sumuko naman ang isa.

Ipinalibing ni Aguinaldo si Luna na may full military honors mula sa Kawit Battalion, na pumatay sa kanya. May napansin si Mabini na duguan ang isang bolo ng isa sa mga sundalo. Sinisi ng pahayagan ng amerikano si Aguinaldo sa pagkamatay ni Luna kung saan inilinaw ni Aguinaldo na hindi siya sangkot sa pagpatay at sinabi pa niya na isa si Luna sa mga pinakamagaling na heneral niya.

Maganda ang pagkagawa sa pelikula.

Ipinakita sa pelikula kung gaano kamahal ng ating mga ninuno ang ating bansa. Aral :

Ang aral dito ay ang kwento na mismo dahil ito ay tungkol sa kasaysayan na mismo ng bansa

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Movie Review: Heneral Luna (Story of Antonio Luna)

Heneral Antonio Luna at John Arcilla , parang hindi popular combo pero mabuhay sa mga gumawa ng pelikulang ito especially Jerrold Tarog at ang Artikulo Uno Productions . I am glad that they risk to produce one of the beautiful, creative, lively narrative, and superb hero Filipino films. Oo nagandahan ako ng sobra at ito lang ulit ang pelikula na ang mga manonood ay nagpalakpakan ulit. At dagdag ko rin marami kaming nanood sa Trinoma kagabi kahit weekday at dinner time.

Note: for future (video) movie reviews , please SUBSCRIBE to my YOUTUBE Channel. Salamat and Mabuhay

Heneral Luna: Not Your ordinary epic hero Filipino Film

Of course I know Gen. Antonio Luna , the brother of famous Filipino painter Juan Luna. He’s from a prominent family and fortunate enough to study abroad. He’s like bida-kontrabida historical figure because of his radical and liberal views in life. Pero aamin ko mas napansin ko si Gen. Luna noong napanood ko ang presentation ng Crime Klasik , hosted by Martin Andanar sa Youtube. Tingnan mo nga naman ginawan pala ng pelikula.

I have so many reasons why this Filipino film is worthy of our time at karapat-dapat sa P230 ng iyong pera que fan ka o hindi ni Hen. Luna (gaya ng kuya ko dahil sa napanood namin sa Youtube na kung saan may naiwan daw siyang yaman sa isang prominenteng political family ngayon). Ilan sa mga iyon ay…

Edgy dialogues, shots – Kung akala mo boring ang movie, ay naku dialogue pa lang mabubuhayan ka na. May makatang part, may meaningful, at may iba na aakma sa panahong ito. Makaka-relate ka dahil sa mahusay na timing at delivery ng mga bida lalo na iyong kay Arcilla at Archie Alemania (Capt. Eduardo Rusca). Medyo seryoso yung character ni Joem Bascon (Col. Paco Roman) pero panaka-naka ay humihirit din naman.

Samantala isa sa gustong-gusto kong serye ng shots dito ay nung nag-time travel sina Luna at ang kanyang ina – Doña Laureana Luna na ginampanan ni Bing Pimentel . Ganda lang tuloy-tuloy na eksena, effects, konting arte at mga galaw ng mga artistang ( kasama sina Marc Abaya) bumubuo sa serye na iyon. Medyo ang dating sa akin ay combo ng crime klasik, play at music video ng isang kape kung saan featuring si Bamboo .

Naalala ko rin yung casual na approach sa mga dati-rati binibigyan pa ng mabigat na atake. Gaya na lamang ng paraan ng pamamahiya, pagpalo at pagpo-promote sa ranggo ni Antonio. Tiyak na matutuwa ang mga kabataan ngayon .

In fairness din sa mga foreigners sa film patawa at nangangabog din sa acting. Hehehe. Mabuti naman ano, kasi madalas pang-display acting lang yung iba.

Solid characterization and interpretation – Ang gusto ko sa paglalagay ng character ay yung mahusay na naipapakilala ito sa pamamagitan ng acting ng aktor at kanilang dialogues. Dito ko naman trip na trip sina Nonie Buencamino ( Felipe Buencamino ), Lorenz Martinez ( Gen. Tomas Mascardo ), Leo Martinez ( Pedro Paterno ), at Mon Confiado ( Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo ). Actually, marami-rami na rin ang movies na napanood ko na kasama si Mon pero ito yung feeling ko na hindi lang inangat ang kanyang antas sa pagbibida kundi maging ang kanyang acting.

Medyo gray character s’ya as Aguinaldo pero maigi yung silent type approach n’ya. Parang itong subtle way na ma-emphasize din ang iba pang character sa films gaya nina Mascardo, Buencamino at iba pa. Kagaya rin ito sa atake ni Epi Quizon na gumaganap na Apolinario Mabini . Medyo bumaba lang konti ang paghanga ko sa tinaguriang ‘Dakilang Lumpo’ dahil parang pinalalabas na hindi siya kagaya ng iniisip ko. Sa bagay, hindi naman siya tinaguriang Santang Lumpo di ba at saka hindi naman siya masyado siniraan. Okay din dito si Mylene Dizon as Isabel, naalala ko yung film niya na “ Gatas… Sa dibdib ng kaaway. “

Kahit naman hindi mahaba ang exposure ay mahusay din naman sina Alex Medina (Capt. Jose Bernal), Ronnie Lazaro (Lt. Garcia), at Art Acuña (Col. Manuel Bernal). Samantala, medyo hindi ko trip yung tsika kay Joven played by Aaron Villaflor . Hindi dahil sa wala s’yang saysay sa film o pangit ang kanyang acting, parang napanood ko na kasi ‘yang ganyan sa ibang film gaya ng Gabriela .

Isa na lang sasabihin ko kay John Arcilla- BRILLIANT!

Mapangahas na R13 historical film

Hindi ko na maalala kung ano rating sa ibang kagayang film na ito pero ito ay R13 dahil sa malulutong na mura, digmaan sa field at kama, at iba pang maselang content nito ay dapat ngang pang 3 rd year high school ( ay K12 na pala) pataas na dapat ang nanood.

Alam mo sa panahon ngayon na iilan na lang ang genre na mapagpipiliin at patay na ang action films, mabuti may naglalakas loob pa at with diin kong sasabihin naghahatid ng makabuluhan at nakaka-entertain na pelikula. Sana may mga sumunod pa!

Mabuhay sa staff and crew ng film na ito especially din sa mga writers na sina E.A. Rocha, Henry Hunt Francia, at Jerrold Tarog.

UPDATE! Trivia

6 thoughts on “ Movie Review: Heneral Luna (Story of Antonio Luna) ”

sino-sino ang mga tauhan sa heneral luna

nasa content po ang sagot :p

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i love this heneral luna

Mabuhay Angel! Thank you for the visit!

Cinema Escapist

Explore and connect the world through a cinematic lens

Philippines

Review: heneral luna (philippines, 2015), by anthony kao , 9 may 16 00:36 gmt.

It’s always a guilty treat to watch a film in which America is the bad guy. There aren’t that many, probably because most nations that villainize America usually have other things to worry about besides competing with the Hollywood juggernaut. Though not from some place like North Korea, the 2015 Philippine blockbuster Heneral Luna is one of those films that star Americans as enemies.

While the Philippines are a staunch US ally today, they were also America’s first foray into colonialism. After losing the Spanish-American War, Spain handed their Philippine colony over to the United States in the Treaty of Paris. Taking control of the Philippines, however, was more complex than putting a signature on paper. The Philippines already had an independence movement and, taking advantage of Spain’s weakness and early tacit American support, they managed to establish a Republic over most of the archipelago before the Treaty of Paris took effect. As it became apparent that the Americans were going to be new colonial masters and not liberators, this First Philippine Republic decided to fight back, kicking off a war in which hundreds of thousands of Filipinos died at America’s hands. Then man who led Philippine forces into this conflict was General Antonio Luna , a former scientific researcher who quickly rose to become chief of the Republic’s army.

However, though there are scenes like when US soldiers kill women and children amidst a voiceover of John O’Sullivan’s famous essay on “manifest destiny”, America is, arguably, not the film’s primary antagonist. Instead, it focuses on conflicts of a more internal nature: Filipino v. Filipino, and those within Luna’s mind. This choice elevates the story from a simple patriotic gorefest (though there’s still plenty of patriotism and gore) to something more complex.

Yes, the film lionizes General Luna, but not to the excessive, almost heart-throbby extent of something like Simon Bolivar from The Liberator . The film shows Luna has deeply flawed — prone to anger, overly aggressive, and infected with a fatal stain of hubris. He gives no heartwarming speeches, no exhortations to “we happy few, we band of brothers”. Rather, he rallies troops with threats of arrest and “Article One” of his military code — ” anyone who disobeys the general’s orders will be executed immediately without trial.”

Luna’s most pernicious physical enemies are not Americans but his fellow countrymen. There are the deserters who flee right before his eyes. There’s the politicians who want to negotiate with the Americans. People like this are traitors; he can neither stomach nor compromise with them. At one point he even flies into an unprovoked rage, promising to defend the nation even if it means going against the President, Emilio Aguinaldo . It’s almost as if Luna’s patriotism blinds him to the realities of human nature — greed, self-preservation, fear. We do see some moments of clarity though. In a quieter moment with a journalist, Luna acidly resigns himself to the senselessness of his world — “it’s just Filipinos being Filipinos”.

Pronouncements like these make Heneral Luna a brave film. Like its namesake, it is unafraid to speak its mind. It goes through the pantheon of Filipino revolutionaries — the people today’s boulevards and warships are named after — and puts their imperfections on display. Revolution is not a dinner party, and Heneral Luna makes that all the more clear.

Heneral Luna — Philippines. Dialog in Tagalog and English. Directed by Jerrold Tarog. First released September 2015. Running time 1 hr 58min. Starring John Arcilla, Epy Quizon, Paulo Avelino, and Arron Villaflor.

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Demystifying the Heneral Luna Phenomenon – A Movie Review

September 23, 2015 by Ninah Villa

I woke up to a most singular occurrence, Tuesday last week. Heneral Luna, an indie historical film which had opened quietly the week before, had begun trending in Twitter at 4 a.m. Like the brash and vitriolic general of the same name, it had refused to fade calmly into obscurity and continued to pop in and out of the trending list in succeeding days.

People have suddenly and inexplicably fallen in love, so much so, that when cinemas dropped from 100 to 48 after the first week of screening, public clamor managed to push the cinema count up to 104.

What is it about Heneral Luna that has so captured the hearts of so many?

Birth of a Renegade

Its popularity is even more surprising considering it doesn’t feature the excesses of Hollywood, the inanity of slapstick comedy, or the endless gush of maudlin mistress woes. What it does show is a Filipino historical and cultural experience told boldly but conscientiously, that is, with more than the usual degree of attention paid to the essentials and the essential peripherals. From the sweeping vistas of verdant land, down to the smallest detail on uniform buttons, everything is laid out with almost reverent care.

And it isn’t an elitist snob. Those harping about narrative flow, nuance, gravity and focus must understand that a perfect film is pointless if it does not reach an audience. Heneral Luna, already at a disadvantage because of its traditionally unpopular genre, has chosen a tone, voice and approach more suited to communicate.

Perhaps the film’s greatest asset in its attempt to engage its audience is what may once have been its biggest risk, its cast. In this respect, there is a refusal to compromise, shunning the effective tactic of foisting ill-fitting roles onto teen idols for salability. The end result for Heneral Luna is a group of seasoned actors well adapted to their roles.

John Arcilla is luminous as Luna and manages to lift us through his mounting wave of just rage. Luna’s boys are the necessary foil to his fire. Anson, Bascon, Alemania, Medina and Acuna emanate an endearing spunk that sit well alongside Arcilla’s fervor.

What of the parallel camp? Mon Confiado makes for a beautifully subdued Aguinaldo while Noni Buencamino’s Buencamino simmers with an inner ardor almost equal to Luna’s. I liked best of all however, Epy Quizon’s Mabini, who is just as I imagined him to be, as if the statesman himself decided to quit the ten peso coin to appear in a film.

Hitting Home

It is too simple to attribute the growing love for the film to its production and cast alone. There are countless other Filipino films that are exemplary in these elements. Why Heneral Luna and why now? The answer is simple, because it is relatable and opportune.

Heneral Luna mirrors in a very clear and sharp tone, the Filipino experience now. It shoves us roughly into the realization that more than a hundred years after Luna’s death, we have not changed. We, by our own divisiveness, indecision and selfishness remain the greatest saboteurs of our own progress. It is inevitable then that as Luna vituperates on screen against the causes of his frustration, we who have grown tired of struggling, feel a simultaneous inner rage boil within us against ourselves and against a cultural system that perpetuates internal strife.

It is fortunate that the filmmakers have chosen Luna as their messenger, a hero so flawed he’s almost like the rest of us. Indeed, the treatment is nearly iconoclastic, but therapeutic. For the first time on film, a hero is taken down from his sanitized moral pedestal and is humanized, so that now, those of us who are on the streets find it easier to learn what he has to teach.

The audience clapped when the credits rolled at the cinema where I watched Heneral Luna . It would be reasonable to say therefore, that whatever its foibles, it had achieved what it had set out to do, more so because the audience weren’t Tagalogs, Ilocanos or Cavitenos. They were a mix of Bisaya and Muslim Filipinos. Even as I imagine the General shouting invectives in the afterlife over our prevailing fractured state, he would have roared approvingly at the ovation, taking it to mean that we have progressed, albeit incrementally, beyond the short-sightedness of regionalism and self-absorption.

Beyond Heneral Luna

One inescapable consequence of the film is a sudden tide of revulsion for Aguinaldo. This is unfortunate considering that the director has been emphatic about there being no villains, only people with different motivations. The more astute observer will also notice that in the scene where the letter that was to seal Luna’s fate was dispatched, the hand that approved it was not clearly shown to be Aguinaldo’s. Historically, there is no direct evidence to implicate Aguinaldo in Luna’s assassination, but could he have prevented it? That is left to the viewers to decide.

If the movie has taught us anything about people, it is that no one is entirely black or white; we all contain varying degrees of good and bad. Published accounts will tell us that Aguinaldo had his shining moments as a general in the revolution against Spain, but he may have stepped on some gray areas later on in his political career. The only fair way to form an opinion about him and his contemporaries including Luna is to read… MORE! And be critical and analytical.

It isn’t enough that you take the word of one or two historians about the events that unraveled more than a hundred years ago. Because it is the nature of humans to be multi-faceted, and because humans are the creators of history, the past can hardly ever be written in stone, and historians will always agree to disagree with the frequency of Pacific typhoons about the truth. We must read and make up our own minds about our heroes and our story.

But why is it even important to arrive at our own conclusions? Because it is only when we’ve come to terms with our collective past can we learn from its lessons.

And because we can’t get enough of the movie…

Heneral Luna Trivia

Luna was a musician, sportsman, chemist, pharmacist, doctorate degree holder and tactician.
The movie’s director, Jerrold Tarog is also its co-writer, editor and musical composer.
It took producers 19 years to bring their concept into a movie.
The writers agreed there would be no villains, only people with motivations.
Producer E.A. Rocha’s grandparents knew the Luna brothers.
The docked ships and other background extensions in the movie were CGI.
Pong Ignacio, the director of photography, took inspiration from Juan Luna’s paintings in depicting the movie’s color, light and shadow.
The Katipunan and succeeding military units were semi-feudal.
According to Carmen Reyes, the movie’s make-up artist, General Masacardo’s sparse mustache was symbolic and done on purpose and in contrast to Luna’s full mustache.
Mon Confiado had his hair cut in Aguinaldo’s characteristic flat top in Cavite and appeared in auditions wearing a full white suit to show he fit the role.
Noni Beuncamino is related to the character that he played, Felipe Buencamino.
The scene where Antonio Luna and Paco Roman’s bodies are dragged are a pointed reference to Juan Luna’s Spoliarium.

Heneral Luna Quotable Quotes

#HugotHeneral

“Meron tayong mas malaking kaaway kaysa mga Amerikano; ang ating sarili.” -Luna to Aguinaldo’s cabinet “Negosyo o kalayaan? Bayan o sarili? Mamili ka.” -Luna to Aguinaldo’s cabinet “Nasubukan mo na bang hulihin ang hangin?” -Mabini to Aguinaldo “Mas madali pang pagkasunduin ang langit at lupa kaysa dalawang Pilipino sa alin mang bagay.” -Luna to Joven “Kailangan nilang tumalon sa kawalan.” -Luna to Joven “Ang taong may damdamin ay hindi alipin.” -Luna monologue “Para kayong mga birheng naniniwala sa pag-ibig ng isang puta.” -Luna to Aguinaldo’s cabinet “Paano ako lalaban? Kakagatin ko sila?” -Luna to Aguinaldo’s cabinet “Ganito ba talaga ang tadhana natin? Kalaban ang kalaban. Kalaban ang kakampi. Nakakapagod.” -Luna to Roman

Recommended Resources

The Rise and Fall of Antonio Luna, D. Vivencio R. Jose
A Question of Heroes, Nick Joaquin
ALL of Ambeth Ocampo’s books
Heneral Luna: The History Behind the Movie (monograph)
Xiao Chua’s videos on YouTube

Reader Interactions

November 14, 2015 at 10:03 am

I can say nothing else but congratulate you in your writing a very informative and lively article. Hope to meet and talk to you in person in the future. 🙂

‘Heneral Luna’ Review: Essential viewing

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

‘Heneral Luna’ Review: Essential viewing

“History was written by those who hanged the heroes.”

The quote from Mel Gibson’s Braveheart (1995) rings truest in the Philippines, where history, or at least the one that was crafted to instill within the people an illusion of a pristine and glorious nation, is as fragrant as a little girl’s fairy tale. Filipinos have been led to believe that the country was birthed from the untainted bravery of our forefathers who dispelled vicious colonizers with both their words and weapons.

However, this history that we are enjoying is one painted with half-truths and veiled lies. Those details of the nation’s past that may or may not have a more lasting impact on our state as a people are either left as footnotes or completely forgotten and neglected. Distilled of dirt and sin, all that is left are perfumed memories that can only fuel a pride that may be as misplaced as it is dangerous.

History in cinema

Local cinema has mostly been complicit to this bamboozlement. Most of the films that have been made to tackle the nation’s history have portrayed the prominent men and women who fought for our freedom as saints, almost bereft of faults and mistakes. (READ: Heneral Luna: Para sa bayan o sarili? )

Line them all up, from Carlo J. Caparas’ Tirad Pass: The Story of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar (1997) to Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Rizal (1998) to Mark Meily’s El Presidente (2012), and all you’ll see are narratives that lead only to the goal of sanctifying the historical figures they center on. Even Enzo Williams’ Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo (2014) ended up putting its titular hero on a pedestal even if it had the audacity to dwell on some of the details of the hero’s death at the expense of another historical figure. (READ: 10 movies featuring PH national heroes )

The few films that managed to shape the historical figures as actual humans instead of icons and idols are films with too small a budget to be able to pull off the requirements of a period piece. Mike de Leon’s Bayaning 3 rd World (2000) ingeniously dissected the famous myth of Rizal. Mario O’Hara’s portrayal of Andres Bonifacio in Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio (2010) is so laced with humanity that a lot of its viewers considered it close to sacrilegious.

Bridging the divide

The divide between the gutless but glossy epics and the braver but more intimate independent productions is so immense. As a result, movie-going masses are fed with didactic rubbish that are designed primarily to treat viewers like kids who prefer their stories visualized like soap operas than read from a textbook, oblivious of the fact that there exists another vein of historical cinema that dares to ask more questions than provide the same answers over and over again.

Jerrold Tarog’s Heneral Luna provides that essential middle ground. It is a film that is crafted with just enough meticulousness a reasonable budget can afford but does not pander to common but erroneous knowledge and wisdom. Instead, it goes straight to the point of unravelling those details in history that were left out by those who hanged the heroes. Tarog’s film is an immense risk, one that is probably fueled not by quick profit but by a profound desire to unmask demons of idols.

Tarog cleverly starts his campaign with Antonio Luna, who has always been known as a gifted military strategist, capable of leading an army composed of farmers plucked out of nowhere to victory against both Spanish and American foes. His tragic demise paints a picture of what was wrong and what is still wrong in the country.

In a way, Luna personifies the fractured hero that defines the country’s fractured history. His life, like history, has been severely whitewashed with great deeds brought to the fore while deficiencies in character are veiled out of sight.

What Tarog does to Luna is to treat him with enough respect to release him from being just an object of this victor’s history we have been blindly celebrating throughout the years. Tarog makes him human, drawing him with virtues as well as warts, and in so doing, creates an essay of everything that is wrong in our nationhood.

Intent and craft

What is most fascinating about Tarog’s Heneral Luna is that it does not place its intent ahead of its craft. The film is beautiful to gaze at. The score made by Tarog is subtle during moments when the drama does not require distracting melodies, but hauntingly intense at the high points.

The film is plotted precisely, never really focusing on the larger aspects of history but on the smaller stories that perfectly construct a hard-hitting picture of a revolution built on suspicion and dissent.

John Arcilla is excellent as Antonio Luna. His performance displays an innate understanding of the character. Driven not by boring reverence but by his own interpretation of what exactly is noble madness, Arcilla is exhilarating to behold in his various interpretations of Luna’s many personalities. (READ: John Arcilla on bringing ‘Heneral Luna’ to life )

As ferocious leader of a seemingly hopeless army, he is rabid and stern. As a pal to his trusted lieutenants, he is unpredictably hilarious. As son to a devoted mother, he is heartbreakingly dear, echoing the same sentiments he has for his family as if it were for his motherland.

While Arcilla dominates the picture with his prodigious performance, Mon Confiado comfortably stays at the side, playing Emilio Aguinaldo, portrayed in the film as a cunning puppeteer instead of the victorious liberator of the Philippines, with such engrossing sobriety. Confiado’s Aguinaldo is vicious in his quietude, amply balancing Arcilla’s Luna, who is as boisterous as he is outwardly violent. It is a generous performance, one that gives the film deeper layers as opposed to being just a battle of wits between prominent figures of the past.

Beyond stereotypes

Ambiguity is not typically regarded as a virtue when it comes to historical films about national heroes. Most of the films that have tackled our history past have a definite agenda of feeding their viewers with a very general emotion of pride for one’s country.

Heneral Luna , while precise in its storytelling and in its depiction of the major players of the revolution, evokes ambiguous emotions about a nation that has been revealed to be built on a rickety foundation of questionable motives and personalities.

Tarog is as blunt as he is poetic. He does not shirk away from detailing the violence of war. In fact, he often laces the gruesome deaths he stages with humor, perhaps to reflect on the folly of war despite its inevitability. Amidst the indulgence in spilling blood and exploiting gunpowder is a tenderness that is genuinely affecting.

Heneral Luna begs you to look beyond the stereotypes of both the man and the history that has been made around him. It begs you to see everything with clearer eyes, with just enough cynicism, and more importantly, without the influence of those who have the greatest to gain for turning our history into a pageant of brave and unblemished patriots, of those who hanged heroes without owning up to their sins. – Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas’ ‘Tirad Pass.’ Since then, he’s been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema. Profile photo by Fatcat Studios.

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Bayan o Sarili: A “HENERAL LUNA” Review

By: gio potes, heneral luna trailer.

0 0 1 486 2776 Nuffnang Philippines 23 6 3256 14.0

Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Good review! So excited to see this!

Go Gio! Galing ng review!

Let us know what you think after you see it 🙂

I could not agree more. Saw this movie on Saturday, and we have similar thoughts for this movie. Talk about "poetic justice."

We definitely need more local films like this 🙂

runningpinoy

(spoiler-free) movie review: heneral luna.

It’s is very seldom that I review a movie, let alone a local one, but Heneral Luna really just stood out for me that I was compelled to write one. It moved something in me enough to write this review soon after watching it in the cinema.

To cut to the chase, Heneral Luna is one of the best Filipino movies I’ve ever seen! The way the story is told is just so Filipino with a mixture of humor every now and then despite the grave seriousness of the situation, yet the cinematography, scoring, and editing is really world class! But more than the technical merits, this is really a great movie!

Set during the Philippine-American war, a short-tempered Filipino general faces an enemy more formidable than the American army: his own treacherous countrymen.

In 1898, General Antonio Luna, commander of the revolutionary army, is spoiling for a fight. The Philippines, after three hundred years as a Spanish colony, has unwillingly come under American rule. General Luna wants to fight for freedom but members of the elite would rather strike a deal with the United States. The infighting is fierce in the new cabinet but General Luna and his loyal men forge ahead even as his military decisions are met with resistance from soldiers who are loyal only to President Aguinaldo…

What I love about this movie is that while it depicts part of our controversial history, it also reflects current Philippine society. Seriously—one of the scenes that depict an incident that happened about a century ago reminded me of a political scene that happened just a few months ago. We keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again and this movie hopefully awakes all of us to break the vicious cycle, particularly in politics.

My verdict: 10/10 ❤️

To everyone that made this film possible, thank you for making a socially relevant movie that made Philippine history interesting again! And thank you for making it a great movie that we can proudly show anywhere in the world!

Heneral Luna

Genre: Historical Epic Running Time: 1:58:00 Release Date: September 09, 2015

Starring: John Arcilla, Arron Villaflor, Joem Bascon, Archie Alemania, Alex Medina, Art Acuña, Mon Confiado, Epy Quizon, Bing Pimentel, Paulo Avelino, Mylene Dizon, Alvin Anson, Nonie Buencamino, Lorenz Martinez, Leo Martinez, Ketchup Eusebio

Directed By: Jerrold Tarog

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Film Review: ‘Heneral Luna’

The Philppines' foreign-language Oscar hopeful is a rousing historical epic set during the Philippine-American War.

By Richard Kuipers

Richard Kuipers

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'Heneral Luna' Review: A Rousing War Epic From the Philippines

One of the most expensive and highest-grossing Filipino films of all time, “Heneral Luna” is a rousing, warts-and-all portrait of Gen. Antonio Luna, the brilliant and brusque strategist whose command of troops in the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) was cut short by betrayal from within his own ranks. Anchored by a charismatic central performance by John Arcilla (“Metro Manila”) and peppered with exciting action sequences, the pic has the all-around energy to overcome the odd moment of bumpy storytelling and prosaic dialogue. A worthy official submission in the foreign-language Oscar race and an entertaining history lesson for audiences everywhere, “Luna” reps an impressive achievement in large-scale filmmaking by prolific scripter-helmer-editor-composer Jerrold Tarog (“If Only,” 2007). Launched locally on Sept. 9, the pic grossed a whopping $5.3 million and has notched an impressive $200,000 on limited U.S. screens since Oct. 30.

It’s worth noting the film’s remarkable turnaround at the domestic box office. Initially released in 100 cinemas, “Heneral Luna” performed only modestly in its first week and was quickly withdrawn from more than half its screens. Following a spontaneous fan-led social-media campaign, audiences started turning up in droves, and the film was subsequently reinstalled in many theaters and went on to enjoy a highly successful nine-week engagement. Such a lengthy run is regarded as a minor miracle for a Filipino production, and Tarog has since announced plans to make another two films set during the same eventful era as “Heneral Luna.”

Announcing itself as “a work of fiction based on facts,” the pic is framed around a series of interviews granted by Luna to Jove Hernando (Arron Villaflor), a fictional newspaper journalist. Threaded into the narrative at well-judged moments, these lively conversations provide viewers with valuable insights into the general’s personality and assist greatly in keeping track of the story’s bulging inventory of characters and events. Much of Luna’s dialogue in these sections is squarely aimed at encouraging local audiences to ask questions about the evolution and identity of their nation, and to draw parallels between contemporary political events and those in Luna’s time.

A clear picture is immediately established of the state of affairs in the Philippines in late 1898. After more than 300 years, colonial ruler Spain has relinquished control and sold the islands to the U.S. for $20 million. Exactly where that leaves the newly self-declared First Philippines Republic and how it should respond to the first landing of U.S. troops on Filipino soil is hotly debated inside the shaky government of President Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado) and wheelchair-bound Prime Minister Apolinario Mabini (Epy Quizon).

It’s clear from the outset that “Heneral Luna” is a very different proposition from the majority of Filipino historical epics, which paint fawning portraits of the nation’s founding fathers. The rasping dialogue by Tarog and co-scripters Henry Francia and E.A. Rocha presents a government wracked by chaos, disunity and the readiness of key players to place personal interest ahead of the national interest by accepting U.S. domination without a fight.

When all this squabbling and bickering comes to the boil, Luna (Arcilla) is potently launched into the fray as a straight-talking, fiercely patriotic commander who cuts through everyone’s rhetoric and insists on pre-emptive strikes in order to save the fledgling nation. As he puts it: “I detest war, but I detest compromise more.” In the process of winning the argument Luna clashes fatefully with pro-compromise power brokers Pedro Paterno (Leo Martinez) and Felipe Buencamino. In a remarkable and highly effective piece of casting Buencamino is played by his direct descendant Nonie Buencamino, a highly regarded legit actor.

With the volatile political landscape well mapped out, “Heneral Luna” thunders into action. Given command of a motley collection of troops that could barely be called an army, Luna whips them into shape with inspirational speeches about nationhood and brilliant tactics that bring about several stunning victories on the battlefield. While paying full due to Luna’s military genius, Tarog does not shy from showing his weaknesses. Most glaring are his fanatical insistence on absolute obedience and moments when he lacks understanding and sympathy for peasants and farmers on whose land the war is being fought.

While following the traditional trajectory of a war movie, “Heneral Luna” is more fundamentally concerned with examining how internal rivalries proved the undoing of Luna and destroyed any chance of the Philippines gaining genuine and lasting independence. Tarog achieves the primary objective with distinction, but isn’t as successful when U.S. forces are center-frame; the momentum drops noticeably, and the dialogue between American characters including Gen. Arthur MacArthur Jr. (Miguel Faustmann) and Gen. Elwell Otis (Rocha) is frequently clunky and unconvincing. But the name of the game here is Gen. Antonio Luna, and for the overwhelming duration of its running time the film delivers on its promises.

Arcilla’s zesty performance brings full-blooded life to Luna’s reputation for inspiring both undying loyalty and enduring enmity. Surrounding him on the loyalty side of the equation are well-written and performed portraits of supporters including Gen. Jose Alejandrino (Alvin Anson), Col. Francisco Roman (Joem Bascon) and Capt. Jose Bernal (Alex Medina). On the opposite side of things, Ketchup Eusebio nails his portrayal of Capt. Pedro Janolino, a smarmy young officer whose refusal to obey Luna plays a critical role in the fortunes of the general and the war itself. Though given relatively little screen time, Mylene Dizon (“Aparisyon”) hits a winning note as Red Cross worker Isabel, a fictional amalgam of several women Luna was known to have been involved with.

A massive undertaking with approximately 100 speaking roles and a crew of 600, “Heneral Luna” impresses on all levels. Production design by Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije, art direction by Katrina P. Napigkit and costume design by Padero vividly bring to life an era that few viewers outside the Philippines will have seen on big or small screens. Cinematographer Pong Ignacio confirms his rising-star status with gorgeous widescreen lensing of lush rural areas, artful compositions in sequences inside the corridors of power and fluid, exciting coverage of the many combat set-pieces. Tarog’s traditional orchestral score is big and brassy when the moment calls for it, and nicely restrained when quiet is required. A high standard of excellence is achieved in pyrotechnics, vfx work and all other technical areas.

Reviewed at Hawaii Film Festival (Spotlight on the Philippines), Nov. 15, 2015. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 119 MIN.

Production: (Philippines) A Quantum Films (in Philippines)/Abramorama (in U.S.) release of an Artikulo Uno production. (International sales: Artikulo Uno, Manila.) Produced by E.A. Rocha. Executive producer, Fernando Ortigas. Co-executive producers, Leo Martinez, Ting Nebrida.
Crew: Directed by Jerrold Tarog. Screenplay, Henry Francia, E.A. Rocha, Tarog. Camera (color, widescreen, HD), Pong Ignacio; editor, Tarog; music, Tarog; production designers, Benjamin Padero, Carlo Tabije; art director, Katrina P. Napigkit; costume designer, Padero; sound (Dolby Digital), Mikko Quizon; sound designer, Hit Prods., visual effects supervisors, Jauhn Dablo, Gaspar Mangarin, Walter Monte, Llewyn Jalimao; visual effects, Blackburst; line producer, Daphne O. Chiu; associate producers, Ria Limjap, Paolo Ortigas; assistant director, Crisanto B. Aquino: casting, Jame Habac, Jr.
With: John Arcilla, Arron Villaflor, Mon Confiado, Mylene Dizon, Nonie Buencamino, Lorenz Martinez, Joem Bascon, Alvin Anson, Alex Medina, Ketchup Eusebio, Art Acuna, Archie Alemania, Epy Quizon, Leo Martinez, Perla Bautista, Bing Pimentel, Miguel Faustmann. (Tagalog, English, Spanish dialogue)

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IMAGES

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'Heneral Luna': Film Review
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5 Reasons Heneral Luna (Movie 2015) Is The Filipino Biopic Of The Year
Review: 'Heneral Luna' wages an overtly biased campaign for a Filipino

COMMENTS

Bayan o Sarili: Heneral Luna Film Review - The Benildean
Kaya sa mga pulitiko, pulis, estudyante at maging pedicab driver, “negosyo o kalayaan, bayan o sarili, mamili ka.”. Sa pagbukas ng pelikulang Heneral Luna ni Jerrold Tarog, muling balikan at buksan ang kwento ng kagitingan ng isang heneral at ng iba pang kontrobersyal na bahagi ng kasaysayan.
Movie Review: Heneral Luna | Book Reports
Movie Review: Heneral Luna. Direktor : Jerrold Tarog. Taonna Pinalabas: 2015 Tauhan: John Arcilla as Gen. Antonio Luna. Mon Confiado as President Emilio Aguinaldo. Epy Quizon as Prime Minister Apolinario Mabini. Alvin Anson as Gen. José Alejandrino. Nonie Buencamino as Felipe Buencamino. Leo Martinez as Pedro Paterno.
Movie Review: Heneral Luna ( Story of Antonio Luna)
Movie Review: Heneral Luna (Story of Antonio Luna) Heneral Antonio Luna at John Arcilla, parang hindi popular combo pero mabuhay sa mga gumawa ng pelikulang ito especially Jerrold Tarog at ang Artikulo Uno Productions . I am glad that they risk to produce one of the beautiful, creative, lively narrative, and superb hero Filipino films.
Review: Heneral Luna (Philippines, 2015) | Cinema Escapist
Revolution is not a dinner party, and Heneral Luna makes that all the more clear. Heneral Luna — Philippines. Dialog in Tagalog and English. Directed by Jerrold Tarog. First released September 2015. Running time 1 hr 58min. Starring John Arcilla, Epy Quizon, Paulo Avelino, and Arron Villaflor.
Heneral Luna (2015) Movie Review - TeacherPH
If someone like Heneral Luna creates a good track record, practices law-abiding orders, he can only get a plot of dethronement from people. They don’t get any form of promotion; they receive life threats. 3. Filipinos’ lack of discipline. Many funny excerpts from the movie portray our lack of discipline.
Heneral Luna Movie Review - Demystifying the Phenomenon
Demystifying the Heneral Luna Phenomenon – A Movie Review. September 23, 2015 by Ninah Villa. I woke up to a most singular occurrence, Tuesday last week. Heneral Luna, an indie historical film which had opened quietly the week before, had begun trending in Twitter at 4 a.m. Like the brash and vitriolic general of the same name, it had refused ...
‘Heneral Luna’ Review: Essential viewing - RAPPLER
‘Heneral Luna’ Review: Essential viewing. Sep 10, 2015 5:56 PM PHT. Oggs Cruz. ... The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas’ ‘Tirad Pass.’ Since then, he’s ...
Bayan o Sarili: A "HENERAL LUNA" Review - Geoffreview
He spends most of his time in silent contemplation, and Confiado marks every gesture with enough mysterious pathos that the hated character suddenly becomes sympathetic. Of course, we have the ever-reliable John Arcilla whose Heneral Luna is a mix of haughty temperament and suave sexiness. Being a work of fiction made the drama more intense and ...
(Spoiler-Free) Movie Review: Heneral Luna – runningpinoy
To cut to the chase, Heneral Luna is one of the best Filipino movies I’ve ever seen! The way the story is told is just so Filipino with a mixture of humor every now and then despite the grave seriousness of the situation, yet the cinematography, scoring, and editing is really world class!
'Heneral Luna' Review: A Rousing War Epic From the Philippines
Film Review: ‘Heneral Luna’. The Philppines' foreign-language Oscar hopeful is a rousing historical epic set during the Philippine-American War. One of the most expensive and highest-grossing ...