Heneral Luna: Movie Analysis

‘Heneral Luna’ is one of the most expensive Filipino epic historical films ever released,
directed by Jerrold Tarog and produced by Artikulo Uno Production. This movie shows how
General Antonio Luna, portrayed by John Arcilla, struggled to keep the Filipinos united
during the Philippine-American War.
General Antonio Luna, or Heneral Luna, a European-educated scientist-turned-
soldier, who was appointed as the head of several brigades of the Filipino army. The movie
started with Joven Hernando (Aaron Villaflor), a fictional newspaper journalist, asking for an
interview with General Luna which the General permitted. From that scene, the movie
transitioned to the war. In the beginning of the movie, an onscreen text was flashed, stating
that the bigger truths about Filipino societies can only be revealed if you mix reality with
fiction. It was in this scene that the character said one of the most iconic lines in the
Philippine industry — “Malaking trabaho ang pagkaisahin ang bansang watak-watak… Mas
madali mo pang pagkasunduin ang langit at lupa kaysa dalawang pilipino sa alinmang
bagay” which is evident in the whole movie because it can be seen that he has struggled a lot
to keep all the Filipinos united against the Americans. Throughout the movie, Luna has been
a terror general who keeps on using vulgar language to express his emotions, which is one
of the reasons why his fellow soldiers abhor him. Luna, having so pride and being so “full of
himself”, is the very reason why his fellow Filipinos killed him.
It is with no doubt that Heneral Luna earned millions. The original script from 1998
was well-revised that made it possible for the Filipino youth to easily relate with the plot. The
pool of the artists who played in the film may not be as famous as the other Filipino actors
we always see in cinemas, but I can say that the way they portrayed their respective roles
gave more life and meaning to the film. It is amazing how Tarog used the movie as an
instrument to reveal the bigger truths about the Filipinos - that their biggest enemy has been
their own selves, and the “cycle of betrayal”, and not necessarily the colonialization.
Although we can say that “Heneral Luna” is a really great movie, we can’t hide the fact
that there will always be things that could have been done in a different way. After reading
some reviews and records of history, I have found out that there are some historical
inaccuracies in the film. First, in the movie, President Aguinaldo was portrayed as a clueless
and dormant leader who seems to be protecting the Americans. Second, there was this certain
battle part in the movie where it shows that Filipinos ‘won’ the Battle of Santo Tomas, which
contradicts with the history because it was really the Americans who won, they only had two
casualties. And lastly, Luna was killed June 05, 1899, during his funeral in the movie, it is
shown that Mabini is still holding a position of leadership. It opposes with the records
because Mabini resigned from the government a month earlier.
On the other hand, a lot of people were saying that they could have lessen the use of
vulgar words but I think, those words are one of the things that gave life to the movie. Since
it is a film about war, I think it is understandable that one cannot avoid cursing especially
when expressing extreme emotions. One astonishing thing about General Antonio Luna,
although he is seen in the movie as the impatient General, is how he made his comrades
choose between business and freedom, and between nation and self. This shows that
sometimes, sacrifice must be made for the betterment of others, especially for the sake of the
nation’s liberty. General Luna was also passionate about his job being a soldier that mirrors
the Filipinos traits – being dedicated in everything they do.
 It can also be noticed that the film has a touch of humor. It seems that it was implied
to lighten up the mood, to lessen the sense of brutality, and to connect more with the Filipino
youth which are the main target audience of the movie. The movie also mirrors the crab
mentality of the Filipinos. Captain Hanolino, which was portrayed by Ketchup Eusebio, alone
is a proof that there are Filipinos who are willing to trade their own countrymen for personal
gain and interests. In addition, General Tomas Mascardo’s partially formed mustache
symbolizes his insecurity for General Luna’s fine-grown facial hair. This movie also reflects
the poor Philippine education because many viewers, specifically students, asked why Mabini
has been sitting all throughout the movie. When in fact, Apolinario Mabini is known as “The
Sublime Paralytic” or “Dakilang Lumpo” in Tagalog.
With the crew focusing on lesser known elements on Luna’s personality, I had realized
that there are still things that are yet to be told, and the secrets and story of the past cannot
be kept forever. Plus, the realistic setting of the movie made the audience feel that it was
really filmed during the Philippine-American War.
Heneral Luna taught us to be brave and never be afraid to fight for what is right and
just, and our nationalist-selves should always be alive. The excellent performance of the
actors and the plot itself are enough reason to see the movie.