cubanoel

[cubanoel]

HENERAL LUNA: AN APHORISTIC HISTORY

Countless films are trying to portray our past situation, but, none of them depicts the real situation of our race from the cruel hands of our enemy.

Most of those films are filled with actions and herioc deeds, yes they do, but thay only focused on the " too common information" widely taught in schools, even young kids know about it.

Philippine culture is rich in history that emerged even from the past that established many legendary figures who fought against foreign forces to protect us, especially our own home land.

The inspiration behind these films are the historical events took place in our country. But, we crave for more, that will satisfy us from our hunger to unleash the truth. Not until, Heneral Luna has made it's cinema shows, making our eyes wide open from the violence reality of the past.

Heneral Luna's Director Jerold Tarog, perfectly made the film more genuine and realistic, he carefully picked the actors and actresses with intense acting prowess.

Heneral Luna's casts including the main character John Arcilla as General Antonio Luna, he is not just an ordinary actor, he received various awards and nominations like Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival as Best Actor (Halaw) in 2010 and nominated on the 16th British Independent Film Awards as Best Supporting Actor (Metro MANILA) in 2013, Nonie Buencamino as Felipe Buencamino, a direct decendant of Felipe Buencamino who is in many films like " Alferdo S. Lim: The Untold Story " and " A Mother's Story ". As for the fictional characters including Aaron Villaflor as a news writer named Joven Hernando also received many prestigious awards, one of these is the 27th PMPC Star Awards For TV as Best Drama Supporting Actor (Juan Dela Cruz). The casts also includes Mylene Dizon as Isabel, Epy Quizon as Apolinario Mabini, Archie Alemania as Kapitan Eduardo Rusca and more.

Simultaneously, he filled the movie with aesthetic scenarios, sketching Filipinos old style of living, which is very noticeable from the beginning up until the end of the film.

Their contumes speaks a lot, as if they were the witnesses of the truth. Paired with their authentic actings, like they were at the real story. During the scene , where General Antonio Luna (John Arcilla) together with his mother, Doña Laureana Luna (Bing Pimentel), brings back their Pasko memories, illustrating Filipino traditions during Pasko, having their "Noche Buena" together with his entire family, exchanging gifts, hanging star lanterns or what we call "Parol" and the state of having an abundant love surrounding the family. And also during the scence when General Antonio Luna with his comrades talked to Isabel (Mylene Dizon) to tell General Tomas Mascardo (Lorenzo Martinez) to surrender, in that scene they showed how Filipina ladies were respected and treasured, even though they were at the mist of tension ,but, they also considered the well-being of the people inhabiting the place and also they managed to have some calm actions for the sake of the innocents.

Even if they inserted some fictional characters, but it helped a lot to the veiwers to understand not just the story, but the real story behind and the essence of being a Filipino are well demonstrated and explained.

They searched locations that will make the movie more ancient in aura, they took their scenes in churches, mountains, farm lands and even in residential places with mansion-like houses resembling old age designs. Leaving more distinctive and understandable image.

Adding a narrative framing through the insertion of fictional characters, gave twists to the film. I can extrapolate that narrative framing in the film contributed further facts what really happened during the time of General Antonio Luna , bestowing uncrumpled scenes.

My insight as a whole is that, Heneral Luna is a perfect film for all of us, an eye-opening movie. A new key to unlock beyond history.

-Noel B. Cuba Jr. (ABM-11)