Heneral Luna

                                                   "The Legendary Heneral Luna"

                                                               By: Jerrold Tarog 

The movie Heneral Luna which aired sometime in September was a big hit in the Philippine movie industry and also a big contribution for Philippine history. It has made history repeat itself in the form of watching it in a film, and I believe it gave the Filipinos variable information about it because most of us is not even aware of who Heneral Luna is and what he has done for the country.

The setting of the movie took place during the time of the Philippine-American war, and it showed Heneral Luna's heroism, courage, skills and leadership in order to protect our country from the Americans that was trying to conquer it. Although Heneral Luna was not successful with protecting his country, the movie showed how true heroes are made and it displayed an amazing character of the late General.

What is most fascinating about the movie is that it does not place its intent ahead of its craft. The film is beautiful to gaze at. 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 as excellent as Antonio Luna. His performance displays an innate understanding of the character. As a ferocious leader of a seemingly hopeless army, he is rabid and stern. As a pal to his trusted lieutenants, he is unpredictably hilarious, as a 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.

It also showed how Antonio Luna is known as a gifted military strategist, capable of leading an army composed of farmers plucked out nowhere to victory against both Spanish and American foes. And his tragic death paints a picture of what was wrong and what is still wrong in the country. In a way, Luna personifies the fractured hero that define's 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.