Best PH film today, 'Heneral Luna'

Antonio Luna would have been an easier man to understand if he were a conventional Philippine hero. In fighting for independence from Spain, Jose Rizal advocated for a peaceful revolution through his pen, while Andres Bonifacio initiated guerrilla warfare with his bolo.

History was not as kind to General Luna whose brutal murder eclipsed his many talents and virtues, even when he was prone to bombast. He was a writer, poet, pharmacist, an excellent guitar player and martial artist who, in Belgium, studied military strategy and the use of field fortifications, trenches and guerrilla warfare. For most of his critics, however, he was simply a hothead.

This move compels Luna to suggest a pre-emptive strike against the Americans before more of them could land in Manila, but he was ignored. The inevitable happens. The war between the Filipinos and Americans ensues with the latter seen committing atrocities against Filipinos, young and old, men and women. The war takes its toll on the ill-equipped Filipino soldiers.

The scenes settle down later on a long table with cabinet members on the side and — on opposite sides of the table — General Luna and President Emilio Aguinaldo. This is where the other war begins and where the war of words would later escalate to more feuds. If one is to understand politics, you know the person with the tight lip could prove to be an even more dangerous enemy.

Director Jerrold Tarog draws out these scenes with admirable restraint, just showing enough to set us up for another story, about a crusty general who spawns enemies in government and among his ranks.

If one asks why yet another historical epic (and there’s been a couple of them coming from the Philippines), it’s only because the audience has seen many previous efforts suffer under the weight of their own self-importance, with their focus on gloss, craft and little else by way of imagination or respect for their audience.

What sets “Heneral Luna” apart from other historical epics is its relevance to this day. It’s a convincing wake-up call from the past. It also spares us the paralyzing self-consciousness, if not stagey scenes and florid dialogue affectations that afflict other epics and keep us shackled in the past.

Yes, the enemy is still us. It’s a tale as old as Luna’s but a recurring theme in modern-day Philippine politics. “When will we ever get it?” the movie seems to implore even if it’s stated clearly by Luna, “Our enemies are ourselves.”