As Heneral Luna fought for the freedom of Philippine independence, giving hope to those strive to be not ruled by the Americans, the film itself I believe gives new hope for Philippine made movies to be watched again by many. The movie Heneral Luna shows a higher standard, a quality and significantly made movie showed in mainstream cinemas. Although it's marketing lacks in promoting the film, there are still movie goers who watched the film.
The way I observed these audiences, I am glad that young adults like me and not only adults watched the movie. Also the response that the movie is getting from social media sites are positive and showed that there are a lot people interested in the film even wanting for it to have a sequel.
"Heneral Luna" directed by Jerrold Tarog features the great general Antonio Luna, who is one of the important figures in the Philippine-American war and fought resistance from once again falling to the rule of another country. The film shows the leadership of this great figure in Philippine history and his tragic murder which is still unsolved, the truth of his death is still wrapped in the shadows of the past and here through this film sparks once more the mystery and the justice that still needs to be brought to this great man who gave his life for the independence of his mother land. It also showed the events which we knew to be true and the reality that really took place. The film unravels history straightforwardly with details the remind us once more the lessons in history we have come to know through our history books.
The actors of the movie truly gave an exemplary performance. John Arcilla's performance as the actor of Hen. Antonio Luna is something to be applaud and be recognized. He embodied the description of Antonio Luna as a hot tempered and prideful man and gave a performance worthy to be recognized as a great Filipino actor. John Arcilla portrayed Antonio Luna as an intense, egotistical, and pretentious man who prides himself of making the Philippines as an independent and strong country. His performance is the one that captivates the attention of the audience to know the Antonio Luna. The supporting roles' acting also need to be acknowledged. The characters that they embodied dialogued well with the main roles.
The cinematography and shots of the film have established well the period of the film and the places the important events in history took place. The establishing shots of the hills and mountains, he cinematic moment wherein Luna facing away from the audience looking over the fields where the American camp is set, these kind of shots gave the audience an "epic feel" of the places the story is set. Through the shots, direction and blocking of the characters it helped in making the film as a period film through it's fast paced editing and raw, in-your-face shots of scenes which realistically shows the action happening during war.Also, the construction of each scene give a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. Scenes such as the scene wherein Mabini and Aguinaldo talking to each other and Mabini is lighted more than Aguinaldo which seems to show that Mabini is the one who enlightens and advices Aguinaldo.There was also a scene wherein the letter being folded and stamped by the seal of the Philippine Republic wherein the lighting was red. The letter contained the order of Aguinaldo requesting the presence of Luna to the place where he met his end.
The soundtrack of the movie complements the feel of the scene. It did not overpower or distracted the audience from what is happening at that sequence. There was a montage wherein Luna plays the guitar facing the window with a full moon. At first he plays the guitar softly then as scenes wherein there was a plot against Luna being shown, the music changes in intensity giving the idea that there is something wrong going to happen.
The production design, from the set and the props, was appropriate and according to the period. There were flaws such as the construction of the bridge in one scene wherein they were about to cross. The bridge in the scene had cemented railing wherein during the 1800's the bridges didn't have any. But the overall set such as in the houses and rooms showed authentic Spanish-Filipino homes. The production design also helped in showing a deeper meaning of some scenes. When Luna once again met Buencamino in the room wherein he was supposed to meet Aguinaldo, the curtains in the room where red giving a hint that blood between the two will be spilled. After that scene was the slow murder of Luna outside by Aguinaldo's soldiers. The last scenes showed the Philippine flag all bloody, dirty, quite torn like it was hanged after the war. It is shown in the background when the Americans were drinking upon learning the death of Luna and occupation of Intramuros and when Emilio Aguinaldo and Felipe Buencamino were being interviewed.
When Antonio Luna's mother came to his room wherein a flashback unfolded of his childhood and his times in Spain, one of the paintings of Juan Luna, brother of Antonio, entitled "The Parisian Life" was showed. He created this painting during his times in Paris. Tragedy stroke at this time when his infant daughter died and his wife had an extra-marital affair. Because of his jealousy he killed his wife and mother-in-law. The French court originally charged him with "crime of passion" but was later freed. Maybe this subtle appearance of the painting in the film hints that the murder of Antonio Luna is a "crime of passion" of his enemies.
Another painting scene showed in the movie is Antonio Luna and Paco Roman's body being dragged by the soldiers. The painting scene were it is similar or inspired to was also Juan Luna's painting entitled "The Spoliarium". In the painting, two bloodied, dying gladiators were being dragged from the arena. In Rizal's toast he said that these "slave gladiators were being dragged away after entertaining their Roman oppressors with their lives...stripped to satisfy the lewd contempt of their Roman persecutors with their honor". Just as the scene in the movie, Luna and Roman are the gladiators, slaves in the eyes of those higher in position or in power at their time. They were men who were stripped down from their honor, dragged away like slaves, inhumanely slaughtered. The Roman persecutors in their case are those who condemned their death with such dishonor.
"Heneral Luna" definitely broke away from the stigma that period films do not have a good market. Jerrold Targo along with the producers and crews of the film showed that it is possible that Filipino period films could be interesting and be watched. May "Heneral Luna" pave way to more films that show values, significance, and creativity with less regard of the huge profit that most companies want to achieve and be an inspiration to them to make films that would uplift the Filipino standard.
