General Luna wanted to fight for freedom but members of the elite would rather strike a deal with the United States.Īrthur Probadora de la Rosa, co-producer of the Aug. Set during the Philippine-American war in 1898, the film is about General Antonio Luna (John Arcilla), commander of the revolutionary army who faced an enemy more formidable than the American army: his own treacherous countrymen. Not since 1936’s “Zamboanga” has a Philippine-made feature film with Filipino stars screened first in the US. The movie’s advance screening in the US is considered historic. The movie was first screened in New York City on July 25 at the Asian American International Film Festival in Village East, ahead of its scheduled wide release on September 9 in the Philippines and in commercial theaters in the US mid-October. “In this day and age, romantic comedies and Hollywood superhero flicks tend to lord it over in the box office, which is why releasing a historic film like Heneral Luna is a big gamble,” he said. Silva, best known for creating the famous Los Angeles Filipinotown mural that depicts Filipino and Fil-Am heroes, said he was inspired by the rave reviews received by the film. “We want to create a buzz for our kababayans back home that they have to see this movie, over any other movie,” said Fil-Am artist Eliseo Art Silva, co-producer of the Los Angeles screening. “Heneral Luna,” directed by Cinemalaya 2013 Directors Showcase Best Director Jerrold Tarog, will be screened at the Krikorian Theater in Monrovia, California, before its wide release in the Philippines next month and in the US in October. 31, National Heroes’ Day in the Philippines, a special movie screening here will give Filipino-Americans a peek into the life of a Filipino hero who fought for the country’s independence from the United States. It is about disappointment and accepting the facts which is disappointing in all of us.LOS ANGELES – On Aug. The most surprising thing about ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’ is that it is a film about patriotism, but instead of inspiring, it serves as a warning. And by depicting Goyo as a modern day celebrity, it really calls out our present day’s penchant for blind idolatry. There are so many comparisons and contrasts between our present government’s cronyism and willingness to appoint positions of power to unworthy people just due to their loyalty.
The film is not afraid to build up the hype of its lead character and rip this hype apart by showing him not being worth this adulation. It makes pointed attacks at Aguinaldo’s choice to have Luna killed instead of finding a way to work with him and to promote Goyo because of his fealty.
Based on the research of the filmmakers, they portrayed Aguinaldo as a man who valued loyalty over true value and worth. The film tears away at the concepts of blind patriotism and idolatry while serving some contentious characterizations of Aguinaldo and his cronyism. It is this meditation on how we see our idols that makes ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’ so intriguing as a film. The second film within is about Goyo and his courtship of Remedios Jose, who is charmed by Goyo’s advances but is smart enough to want exclusivity and a renouncement of his frivolous playboy behavior, as she wants him to be the hero he is touted to be. Firstly, it plays off as a political war drama as the Americans and the Filipino revolutionary governments are preparing for an eventual battle with Aguinaldo.
Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’ is intriguing as the film’s plot runs in two parallel lines. Portrayed as a celebrity, the talk of the town, and as the eye of every young maiden in town for his charming looks. Together, he and his trusted men sought to eliminate Aguinaldo’s enemies such as the Bernal brothers. The “boy general” Gregorio del Pilar, otherwise known as Goyo, was fiercely loyal to Aguinaldo that he was conferred the rank of General being the youngest of the revolutionary government at 24. The war has seemingly come to its end, though the country is unaware of a bigger battle coming to head in five months. As the chess pieces of this intricate war are put into play, The Philippines take a brief moment of peace and silence. ’ Taking place immediately after the death of General Antonio Luna, the ragtag revolutionary army was divided into troops still loyal to Luna, and those loyal to President Aguinaldo as he’s trying to sustain the country’s government as American forces begin to tighten their grip in the country. In the second installment of the TBA trilogy in reimagining Filipino heroes’ lives and their acts of heroism, ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’ explores the parameters of leadership, morality and fame rather than the rage and fury from ‘Heneral Luna.