Beruin, Laurence C. Dr.

Calairo

MA-TSS

Film Review: Heneral Luna

Re-Creating His Story

Heneral Luna, a film released in 2015, was considered a phenomenal film. Not only because of
its financial success, but its grandiose way of re-telling the history of Gen. Antonio Luna that surely
captivated the millennial moviegoers and patrons alike. For that matter, this essay shall focus on three
important factual and fictitious elements that personally struck when I’ve watched the film.

As it stands, Heneral Luna was not a biopic and was not marketed as such. Yet despite being
treated as a historical drama, it has a fair share of historically accurate events and details that made the
film more appealing, especially to academic scholars. For the historically accurate elements of the film, I
chose the 1) Scene where soldiers got new uniforms, 2) depiction of Mabini and 3) Gen. Luna’s temper.
For the fictitious elements, I chose the 1) Halt scene as onset of Fil-American War, 2) depiction of Gen.
Aguinaldo, and 3) assassination of Gen. Luna and Spolarium resemblance.

The scene where the soldiers got new uniforms displayed a historical relevance as it was to
depict the transition from Andres-Bonifacio-era to Luna-era uniforms. According to Business World’s
interview with Pedro Antonio Javier, co-founder of the Buhay na Kasaysayan Philippine chapter, the
change in uniform signaled the transformation from the old Feudalistic Army into a Modern National
Army. Changes in the design include the rayadillo, the ranks which were moved from sleeves to shoulder,
the use of color codes for branches in the army, the use of white officers Kuracha cap, and collar
insignias. The historical accuracy was based from actual photos and artifacts from that same era. As Mr.
Javier being their consultant, they made sure the accuracy of their uniform. Personally, this was an
important element as it showed that Filipinos were starting to look and act like actual soldiers whom are
disciplined, united under one common goal, and willing to follow a leader whose nationalism and
patriotism serves as his core values.

While Mabini became a talk of the town due to uninformed (or stupid) moviegoers of his
inability to stand or walk due to polio, his moniker “The Brains of Revolution was profoundly depicted
throughout the course of the film, either with Luna or other characters, yet most prominently with Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo. Being the latter’s adviser, he was trusted with writing decrees for Aguinaldo's
signature, some of which laid the groundwork of the Malolos Republic. Yet despite his brilliance and
being quick in making his thoughts known to those around him, he also served as Aguinaldo’s moral
conscience to some extent which were well in fact, a factual depiction of Mabini himself.

All throughout the film, Gen. Luna’ temper was, if I may describe it, as short-fused as it is on
most occasions. His temper and the way he handle his emotions was a critical turning point on his overall
depiction not only in the film, but in all history books. Having a fiery character, and highly-disciplined
approach as a military man, such led to people following him not only because of his rank but because of
being maltreated by words or fear of what he may do to them. Such instance also led to a strained
relationship with Cavite generals and even Aguinaldo himself. It is a known fact that his temper or hot-
headedness led to his demise Cabanatuan in 1899 which was exaggeratedly portrayed at the end of the
film.

In terms of the fictitious elements of the film, the Halt! Scene at the first part of the film was
quite striking. While a similar event took place concerning Filipino and American soldiers in the area
between Barrio Santol and Blockhouse 7 that signaled the start of the Filipino-American War, the event
took place in the evening. Corporal Anastacio Felix of the 4th company of the Morong Batallion was shot
by American soldiers, as portrayed in the scene but not in the middle of the day rather 8:30 in the
evening. The inaccurate depiction of the scene was done maybe because the scene the follows it was the
round table scene that was, as I personally understood, simultaneously taking place, within the day to
promote continuity in the overall tone of the particular chapter of the film.

Another thing that piqued my attention was the depiction of Aguinaldo. While Gen. Aguinaldo
had a continuous fallout amongst millennials (in terms of appreciativeness), the man himself was
ultimately depicted as the bad guy or villain of the whole series. Not the average villain who tortures the
hero on a daily basis, but more like the final boss that lurks in the shadow and always have the final
laugh. As much as I want to loathe the character, I feel for Gen. Aguinaldo himself. It is hard to lead a
group, let alone possibly lead a country full of desirous individuals who felt like personal interest is
directly proportional with the betterment of the whole. His antagonistic behavior towards the
protagonist and his final nail to the coffin decision leading to the demise of Luna, more or less depicted
Aguinaldo as a bad person, period. Yet again, I considered this fictitious as it deprives the general himself
a chance to portray his other side, like all of us who has a different side of ourselves. That other side who
wanted to lead a country, or better yet, make this archipelago a nation for all its inhabitants.

Last and certainly not the least, the assassination of General Antonio Luna and its resemblance
to the highly-acclaimed Spolarium by his brother, Juan Luna. But before I consider the event an over-
exaggeration and overly-dramatized for the purpose of leaving an imprint to the minds of those who’ve
witnessed such, it was the best scene I’ve ever watched on a historical film since the 1998 Rizal biopic.
While most of the scenes where historically accurate, based on my research, particularly the inclusion of
Aguinaldo’s mother and the assassins’ looting of his corpse, those scenes that pay homage to the
Spolarium were only the directors’ take in creating a symbolism of Gen’ Luna’s assassination. To be
precise, the Spolarium was an entry in the 1884 Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes whilst Luna’s death
happened in the 1899.

SOURCES:
Heneral Luna Study Guide retrieved via Scribd.com
https://opinion.inquirer.net/88371/antonio-luna-and-his-temper
https://www.bworldonline.com/the-movie-and-historical-accuracy/
https://www.filipinoamericanwar.com/filamwarbreaksout.htm
https://www.filipinoamericanwar.com/lunaassassination.htm
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/64047-fast-facts-life-legacy-apolinario-mabini

Note: As I have not watched Goyo film, I am not capable of writing a review that is solely based on
written reviews posted in the web. Such will defeat the purpose of doing a film review. Apologies Sir.