Many people before me have written about Heneral Luna and they have generally found it to be a breath of fresh air in Philippine cinema. We have a local film industry that is generally devoid of critical fare, the industry being flooded with infidelity movies and slapstick comedies.
That said, I must admit that when I first saw the billboard for the film along EDSA before it came out, I knew that it was going to be a compelling film—Heneral Luna is simply a very compelling and controversial character in our history. He was a renowned tactician and able general, educated in Europe, hotheaded and outspoken. Lived violently and died violently under mysterious circumstances (read: assassinated. And by whom? We may never know). My interest was piqued.
Then the film came out and the reviews came pouring in. Due to my busy schedule, I wasn’t able to watch the film right away. But I’ve read enough good reviews that when I stepped into the theater, I had incredibly high expectations for the film. Thankfully, the film didn’t disappoint.
Some other interesting reviews and critical reflections
CNN Philippines – Heneral Luna Review
Asian Journal – Heneral Luna the Movie
The Daily Tribune – The Untold (hi)story in Heneral Luna
Rappler iSpeak – The problem with Heneral Luna
This is my reflection and review.
Overview
At the outset, the film stated that it took liberties with some facts and with the timeline, so some suspension of disbelief was needed. And lets be frank, this film was a political and social manifesto directed towards the Filipino at large. Viewed in this light, the message and the delivery of the message makes sense.
Reflections
The film immediately admits of multiple interpretations. One may consider it a call for patriotism and heroism. My takeaway from the film however is more basic: It is a call for excellence and a call to turn away from the petty pride that afflicts our society and nation. There was a point early on in the film where Luna tried to distribute uniforms to the regular soldiers saying: “Kakaunti lang ang salapi ng sandatahan ngunit kailangan na ipakita natin sa Amerikano na kagalang galang tayo.” This is part of a larger message about striving for excellence as a people.
Throughout the bulk of the film, Luna was shown trying to command a united front, trying to keep the Americans in Manila and trying to prevent them from breaking out into the North. The work ethic and strict discipline he imposed quickly earned him the ire of other commanders who were content to siesta and fiesta their way even in the midst of a military campaign. The portrayal, and rightly so, was in favor of Luna’s disciplinarian style and tactical and strategic competence. Competence, efficiency and results orientation, in Tarog’s world, trumps petty rivalries, pride and regionalism—all the more so when the stakes are LIBERTY or DEATH. This is how it is in the real world and in the movie world.
When was the last time we saw such a stirring sight as an army of laborers off to a civil engineering project? Our country it seems, has never had the experience of implementing public works on a grand scale
Another clear message in the film is that Family isn’t everything. Luna goes on the claim that the Philippines cannot progress from what it currently is if the people can’t think beyond the family. I understand that Filipinos are a family-oriented people, however, this is a crutch. Because we see the family as a support-system, it hinders us from thinking and acting independently. It also makes us prone to nepotism as a culture. On one hand were shown the family-oriented Buencamino and Paterno trying to protect their businesses in order to maintain their family’s standard of living. On the other hand, we have Luna allowing his brother to rot in jail because he knows that nobody is above the law even if he could have used his influence to have his brother freed. Oh and don’t get me started on the officers taking their families’ along for a train ride on a train meant to transport soldiers.
Speaking of the law, the film also makes it clear that in order to have a progressive society, we must allow the law to apply to everyone equally, no matter how rich or powerful they are. This message is unequivocal.
No one is higher than the law! - Not even sidewalk vendors.
Characterization
I am glad that the film tried to portray Luna as more than just a one dimensional character. He, like his rivals Buencamino and Paterno had a family to take care of, has his own desires and temptations.
I must say though that the historical Luna, from what I already knew about him, would probably have approved of the message of the film--he had a conception of the “Filipino Nation”. Note that he was educated in Spain and rubbed shoulders with the propagandists during that period.
Aguinaldo was also portrayed as a divided character. He won’t hesitate to purge his ranks of malcontents (he was practically a dictator after all!), but he didn’t have to like it. Ghosts of the past haunted him all throughout.
The Americans portayed at film I think served as proxies for how the international community views us.
“You killed the only real general you had.”
They had to show Luna the respect he deserved as a foe, but you can see that they had little respect for any other Filipino.
Treatment of gore
I know that Filipino movies generally shy from depictions of gore. This film though was not shy about showing a guy’s head getting blown off or a man’s severed leg. Luna’s death was also a bloodfest.
The gore had a place in the story however: One, it goes to show that war is not a pretty or glorious thing but in spite of this, Luna continues to lead his men and tries to keep up to date on the situation on the frontlines--not an easy thing; another is that it sets the audience up for one of its most iconic scenes.
I especially liked this shot.
A Filipino Child Brutally Murdered
Definitely this one.
But this shot is the most poignant.
This shot is a recreation of the Spoliarium, which we know was painted by Heneral Antonio Luna’s older brother, Juan.
See the resemblance? Everything practically led up to this.
The Spoliarium depicts corpses of slain gladiators being dragged from a Roman arena to the wails and moans of women onlookers. According to José Rizal, the Spoliarium “embodied the essence of our social, moral and political life: humanity in severe ordeal, humanity unredeemed, reason and idealism in open struggle with prejudice, fanaticism”. Makes you think.
Cinematography and overall production quality
This film was surprisingly good as we can see from the Spoliarium recreation shown in the picture above. Sure we have cardboard props, balusters whitewashed in Boysen enamel and some bits and bobs that look out of place, but it didn’t distract and it didn’t detract from its beauty and politico-social message that the film had to offer.
The film had some very beautiful shots.
I learned from some forum that this battlefield promotion may have been that of Major Torres Bugallón
It’s been a long day without you, my friend / And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again / We’ve come a long way from where we began / Oh, I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
Points for improvement
The film has its flaws and if I worked with Jerrold Tarog, I would have suggested that he did a few things differently.
One is the battle where Janolino was disciplined. The Filipinos were not on the defensive in this battle. This incident took place during the Second Battle of Caloocan, a Filipino offensive with the aim of dislodging the American’s from Manila. This was the last Filipino offensive and the last shot at winning the war.
The offensive was planned as a coordinated offensive: An attack against the American’s on several fronts as well as from behind their lines. Needless to say, the attack failed with many historians blaming the lack of coordination among Filipino Units. History and public opinion hasn’t been kind to Col. Janolino and his Kawit Batallion, in fact, no one can say what exactly happened to him after that incident.
Needless to say, this incident should have taken place during the offensive—at the very moment of victory—in order to highlight the dangers of insubordination, hubris and pride.
Lastly, the film could have further gone into the time when Luna lived in Europe and rubbed shoulders with the propagandists. It would better highlight the philosophy of Philippine nationhood if ever there was one.
Conclusion
The film was not shy about being a political and social manifesto. It struck the chords of so many Filipinos. This must be the reason why it was successful [enough to break even] at the box office. Even more impressive was the fact that the film was patronized by the country’s intelligentsia. That said, I sincerely hope the audience does not miss the message about competence and excellence.
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