MANILA – As National Heroes’ Day comes up on August 31, a film dares ask the question “bayan o sarili?” Country or self? Bravery or cowardice? In “Heneral Luna,” a film by writer-director Jerrold Tarog, the answer stands firmly in the former.
With the screenplay adapted from “Whirlwinds of Dust” by Henry H. Francia and E.A. Rocha, Tarog has a cast of talented actors who breathe life and bring back the humanity of our textbook historical figures. Antonio Luna (John Arcilla), Apolinario Mabini (Epy Quizon), and Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado) immediately come to mind.
Slated as part of a historical trilogy by Artikulo Uno Productions, some creative liberties were taken with the film (hence the opening credits disclaimer), but it’s meant well, as the production is meant to incite further thought.
Dakila, a change-oriented organization, helped Artikulo Uno in its campus tour to promote the movie ahead of its general release—with the assistance of the Filipino Youth Commission and the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Dakila president, Lourd de Veyra, addresses the Filipino youth in an open letter: “Study the past. Ask the difficult questions. Argue and care like it is still 1896, 1899, or 1900 – because the ghosts of the past continue to haunt us.” Apt words, considering the movie’s content.
At a special advance screening of the movie at Cinematheque Iloilo, Dakila’s Leni Velasco acknowledged the regional screening partners and addressed the audience of students, educators and film/history aficionados.
As the film is meant to “disturb the idea of heroism” and raise “questions on the idea of nationalism,” Velasco points out that Filipinos are still in the midst of an “unfinished revolution.” And for everyone to contribute to the winning end of that unending struggle, the idea isn’t to die for the country, but live for it instead. “Every act of selflessness counts,” she says.
Working with the idea that revolutions begin in the imagination, Tarog grabbed the chance to do “Heneral Luna” as his contribution to doing away with romanticizing nationalism. As someone from the post-screening panel commented: “It’s really about small acts every day. Be prepared to stand alone, be anonymous, be ridiculed.”
Produced by E.A. Rocha and executive produced by Fernando Ortigas, the biopic has a planned theatrical release in the U.S., and is slated for general release in the Philippines on September 9, 2015 —with student discounts being offered at all SM and Robinson’s cinemas. For more details on screening schedules, please log on to facebook.com/Heneral.Luna, or henerallunathemovie.com
