Julliane Manuzon

12 – St. Mary Mazzarello

Critique Paper on

Heneral Luna: Movie

Heneral Luna is one of the greatest historical films ever made in the Philippines. It

contains all of the facts and information that Heneral Luna and his team gathered before.

Because it is based on our history, the film is extremely powerful and eye-opening as I watched

it. As a millennial, I had no concept of how hard our Filipino heroes fought simply to protect our

nation. The director wants us to understand that even though other Generals and high-ranking

government officials failed to assist him, Heneral Luna fought till the end. Even without

supplies, equipment, collaboration, or leadership, Filipinos can battle the Americans. Bravery is

another example in the film. Heneral Luna also displays his aggression for cowards and traitors

on his side, as well as his devotion to the country he adores. The film is completely engrossing

due to its graphics and emotions, demonstrating that it is well worth seeing. Its action-packed

plot and thrilling scenes transport us back to the events of the Philippine-American War.

The director was able to show not just Heneral Luna's true tale, but also the lives of

Filipinos. General Luna was recognized for the brilliant yet astute ideas that he used to lead his

revolutionaries against the Americans. Despite his reputation as a war genius, many of the

businessmen who assisted the Republic of the Philippines in obtaining the necessary supplies for
the war despised him because he treated them as traitors for prioritizing their businesses and

families, and they wanted to negotiate with the Americans so that they would not be implicated

in the revolution. Gen. Luna sees it as a sort of treachery in their own country because they

wanted the Philippines to be controlled by foreigners, and it appears that they are selling their

own country. Many Filipinos, particularly the youth, are drawn to it because it offers us the

power of bravery and cooperation. It appeals to the young because it educates us about

Philippine history and heroism in the past. For me, the fight between Luna and his men and the

Americans is a function of art. It's like a trench conflict when two adversaries wait in their

dugouts and then come out to shoot each other. Because the scenario and the painting are

comparable, I recall the sight as the portrait or art of the "Battle of Manila." Also, for me, the last

scene is a function of art because it reenacts the “Spolarium,” which shows the traitors who

killed Luna and his companion, bragging them towards the wall, and at that precise moment, it

really brings back the image of Spolarium in the movie, and it is also a historical one because

most Filipinos are familiar with the “Spolarium,” and it gives them knowledge about it. While

viewing the film, I was also struck by the aesthetic, since most of the scenes depict various forms

of art. Arts that express something within it that we may describe in many ways. It depicts the

arts during a battle and conveys emotion via the actors' movements. It depicts many items in the

past, such as antiques, which symbolize the arts in the film. There are instances throughout the

film when something is inexplicable or difficult to explain. In the film, art is decided by a person

who genuinely enjoys everything that involves actions and feelings.

 The film is fantastic because it demonstrates how difficult it is to battle for the

freedom that we desire for our country and our fellow citizens. It is not only about the struggle

for freedom between Filipinos and Americans; it also demonstrates that we fight for our other

goals (money, independence, and power) and that battling our fellow Filipinos is reasonable. The

fact that the film demonstrates that there are gaps in our past. It makes me wonder why the

killings of General Luna and Andres Bonifacio were depicted in the movie, and who was the

perpetrator. Joven, Felipe Buencamino, and President Emilio Aguinaldo all testified regarding

Gen. Luna's death before the end of the film. Furthermore, when he determines what to do to

take leadership of the Republic of the Philippines into his own hands, President Emilio

Aguinaldo interprets authority in both positive and negative ways. The film's settings are quite

reminiscent of our lovely homeland, the Philippines. The way Filipinos used to live back when

they had to create their food, and the way we work now when there are no tall structures,

pollution, traffic. Joven Hernandez also symbolizes the people who watched the struggle

between Filipinos and Americans, General Luna's desire to gain our freedom, and how the

Republic of the Philippines ended up in American hands. He, too, desired freedom in our nation,

and he attempted to fight for it by writing the truth with his pen as a sword.

We wanted to discover what or how history happened before we were born in this

contemporary age, why and how our government and country were perverted into our own

hands, and he symbolizes us because of our innate curiosity. He represents a new generation that

is always ready to defend and patronize its homeland. A new generation that understands

politics. A new generation will mark the beginning of a new age. The start of a new era in which
our government's corruption may be addressed. Joven Hernando is the one character in the

“Heneral Luna” film in which I can be involved and inquisitive. I believe Joven Hernando

represents the next generation since every word Luna speaks to him may assist the next

generation to push themselves to their limits and demonstrate that every generation has a new

leader who can stand up and demonstrate their leadership. Joven Hernando is another figure that

needs to be preserved because, in his role in the film "Heneral Luna," he can convince the

Filipinos that Luna's valor is genuine and worth fighting for. Heneral Luna is always concerned

for Joven Hernando's safety since he is the future generation of Filipinos, and Heneral Luna

wants to ensure that his words and combat resolve will soon serve as an inspiration to the next

generation of Filipinos. Add it all up. The statement "Ang kalaban natin ay ang sarili lang natin"

from the movie "Heneral Luna" was the one that hit me the most. Because of Luna's harshness,

the Filipinos were terrified and unsure of what to do, so they devised a strategy to fight the same

race, or "lahi," which is Filipino. We will not be able to fight ourselves or win a war if our

system of collaboration and teamwork fails due to our cowardice and traitorousness. We must

demonstrate our aggression and desire to preserve our homeland, the Philippines if we are to win

a war. In the end, the film is excellent for people who are open-minded and passionate about

Philippines. This is another classic historical film that I'd lke to rewatch and learn more about.

Source:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4944352/plotsummary