Heneral Luna is a Filipino movie that was released on 2015 under the direction of Jerrold Tarog

and production by E.A Rocha. The film received critical acclaim from critics and audiences alike,
praising its cinematography, writing, acting and plot. The film was selected as the Philippine
entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. The movie features the
life of a short-tempered Filipino general who faces an enemy more formidable than the
American country: his own countrymen. A national hero which is known to get a lot of enemies
because of his very bad temper which also led to his assassination. Aside from telling us
context wherein he’s always flared up, we also get to meet him more intimately as a leader, a
soldier, a man and as a son.
I think that as a leader, he is a complete disciplinarian and an autocrat, he always
wanted obedience from his soldier which made him or created a bad image for him but
amidst of being a terror leader, he lead his group well, constructed battle strategies,and
fought for the country. I felt that everything was difficult for him because while he was
fighting for the country, he’s also having an argument with his co-Filipinos, making them
follow his orders, and fight for what he thinks is right. Not everyone agreed with his
morals, thus earning him the title of “Heneral Artikulo Uno” because of his strictness.
In my opinion, Filipinos at that time are scared and cowards that’s why they gave
their trust to the Americans hastily. That our leaders at that time cannot have their own
stance, being dependent to another country which led to the death of many Filipino
soldiers and Filipinos, which also led to the death of a great leader on the hands of his
fellow countrymen. It seems that unity is an issue during that time, that Luna was correct,
that the real enemies of the Filipinos are themselves. In addition to that, peace cannot be
achieved easily during those times. And it made me realize how scary power is. Because
power and selfishness blinded us greatly from nationalism. Moreover, I believe that we
need a General Luna in this time. I respect him for his strength, his will to protect his
country and his perseverance to his beliefs. I felt angry, sad and even almost hostile
towards my fellow countrymen who betrayed Luna. It open up my mind and eyes when
Luna said “we have enemy bigger than Americans--Ourselves” General Luna was right,
the real enemy of the filipino back then is their fellow filipinos. That is why they can’t
achieve freedom. I salute to all the brave soldiers and to those Generals who keeps
faithful to their duty that fougth for our freedom. And especially to our great hero General
Antonio Luna. They are the real heroes of our beloved country.
In conclusion, the movie wants us to see how General Luna lead the Filipino soldiers
against the Americans, how our leaders at that time cannot have their own stance and how
indecisive they are, and how we lack unity which led to the death of many of our
countrymen and to the fall of the Philippines on the hands of the Americans. And the time
that they killed General Luna, you can see there that filipinos back then has lack of
knowledge. They didn’t think that if General Luna died, what happened next? Are they
gonna win the against the americans? They do not think of things that can happen
afterwards. Maybe if they didn’t killed General Luna, maybe we achieved the freedom
we want.
The film’s cinematography will keep your focus in the movie, from camera angles to
the vivid colors ,the ambiance and the great transitions from past to present are superb. It
also shows the brutality of warfare and gruesome scenes which will shock you and make
you feel hurt.