By: Mary Ofelyn Datuin

For years Filipino students were taught in their history class or Araling Panlipunanabout the courageousness and sacrifice our heroes have gone through in order to defend and promote our country’s independence and democracy. We’ve heard and read about the written works of our national hero Jose Rizaland how he has come to fight for liberation against the Spaniards without having to wield neither a sword nor a gun. How Andres Bonifacio led the KKK into battle in order to free us from the Spanish chains of oppression and tyranny. We’ve come to learn of other significant people that helped in fighting for our country such as Emilio Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini and Marcelo del Pilar. Now we look into the life of one more Filipino who fought for our country this time, against the Americans who just as the Spaniards, colonized our motherland and not as a side character but as a lead role of his own that embodies the spirit of a Filipino hero – with courage, determination and nationalism.

Watching Heneral Luna opened my eyes to the dark history of our country; the betrayal of our leaders, the pride and individualism that tarnished our flag of bloodshed and the loss of a great hero. But besides the anger that boiled in me after watching the film, what captured my attention were the technical elements that highlighted the film’s enticing and quite humorous story.

One element that was striking was the lighting. During the several meetings that took place throughout the film, we could see the brightness of the lighting whenever Heneral Luna spoke. However, as the camera moved towards the president at the time (unfortunately) – Emilio Aguinaldo, it seemed as though it was dim and quite dark, leading me to believe that while Heneral Luna was a person with a clear incentive of fighting for the Filipinos, Aguinaldo however had a dark and hidden motives for the Philippines.

One of my favorite scenes throughout the film was when Heneral Luna’s mother reminisced the time when Luna was not yet a general. The paneling alone is one that I have not yet gotten over. The way the camera moved from one character to the other highlighting each one with his/her own shot was something I have not yet seen before and one I gladly appreciate today. It followed the past of Luna from the time he was a little boy, to when he was in Paris and met our national hero, Rizal and then was brought back to his room where his mother caressed him ever so gently. It moved me so much as I was able to learn about him in less than a few minutes that gave me goose bumps as I watched. Another scene that amazed me was when Luna sat on one side of the bed while Isabel sat on the other. The way the camera moved as they lifted out of bed separately following to a shot that showed them together with the use of the bed’s drapes as a cover was one I noticed with great awe.

                Heneral Luna, although spoke about a very serious event that happened in our country, did not leave its viewers more than just anger, hatred and confusion throughout the film, rather the movie was still rich in humor and wit. I could quote the amusing words of our not-so-serious general; “mierde!” or “punyeta!” and let’s not forget the meme that was made after viewers watched the film: “bigyan niyo ako ng tatlong araw”, “Heneral Artikulo Uno”, and my personal favorite: “nauubusan na ako ng English!” and of course his contagious laugh. But humor was not the only thing the film was rich in, instead it was full of eye-catching mise-en-scene. They were those that I anticipated for the most coming in the theater, and the cell phone sir spoke about, to the point I would dare not blink in fear of missing one.

                I got a chance to see La Parisienne during the story telling of Heneral Luna’s mother painted by none other than his brother, Juan. I saw the flag that whenever Luna stood in front of it the blue color was in its ride side symbolizing peace. However, whenever Aguinaldo was in front of it, the blue shifted to the left and the red was on its right symbolizing that the country was at war, another symbolism that in the hands of Aguinaldo, the country was in danger. Among those I have noticed, the Spolarium that I waited for in the film that dragged the hero I have come to love in his most gruesome state. Whose blood drenched his uniform symbolizing the stronghold of the Philippines as a proud general along with his loyal companion, Paco was another scene that caught my attention – the tattered and bood stained flag of our country. At the end of the film we could see how tarnished it was with blood and was filled with wounds that were similar to those of Heneral Luna’s, with gun shots and slashes from the swords that struck our brave hero. His death indeed was a scar to the Philippines that even his fellowmen were so willing to cause. During the scene when Luna’s coffin was carried by the soldiers whose clothes were all red, just as so as the color of blood, it symbolizes that those in red were those responsible for his death. All except for Emilio Jacinto who was the only one who wore white. By the end of the film, Emilio Aguinaldo, Felipe Buencamino and Eduardo Rusca spoke in front of the camera as if they were being interrogated of the death of Luna. It was as if they were speaking to us, and as viewers were responsible of the death of Luna because we saw it with our very own eyes because at the very end we were told that the killers of Luna were never caught and yet we knew. Although the film did tell us also, that some scenes were work of fiction I can’t help but be swayed by it and I find this as a personal mise-en-scene to notice. Finally, the flag burned along with the words that informed us of what had happened after Luna’s death wherein I understood from it that as justice was not brought to Luna, the flag was also given an injustice that consumed it altogether. The loss of a hero was a blow that brought our country into perish and thereby we were consumed by the Americans just as the fire did with our beloved flag.

                I admit that this film moved me more than I expected it to do so, but more than that, I was able to realize how much my colonial mentality was brought about by a dark history in our county. I used to dislike watching Filipino films because they were cliché and I dislike the actors we have today, but what film appreciation has taught me is that not all Filipino films are corny although most of those we have in the cinemas are commercialized and are still cliché we do have ones that are a special treat to watch. Heneral Luna was one of them, it taught me to be proud of my country and to appreciate the heroes we have because they were the ones who fought the battle a person like me would dare to face.