Bayan o Sarili: A Reaction on the Heneral Luna Film
About 116 years after his treacherous death, General Antonio Luna is paid tribute with a biopic film entitled Heneral Luna for his overlooked, significant contribution in building a Filipino nation. The production was made possible by Jerrold Tarog, who was not just the director, but also the co-scriptwriter, musical composer and editor of the movie. Tarog was able to arrange the essential elements, both historically and artistically, to come up with an undeniable Filipino masterpiece. Unlike any other motion picture that seeks to sanctify the historical figures they focus on, Heneral Luna takes a different path by making sure that the general appears more "human". Aside from being portrayed as extremely nationalistic, Gen. Luna is depicted as fierce in words, proud, hot-tempered and strict to his hopeless army, hilarious to his loyal lieutenants, and an affectionate son to his mother. Additionally, it provides a storyline of how we lost the battle to the America...