Heneral Luna

Heneral Luna

Official movie poster

Directed by

Jerrold Tarog

Written by

E.A. Rocha
Henry Hunt Francia
Jerrold Tarog

Starring

John Arcilla
Mon Confiado
Arron Villaflor
Joem Bascon
Archie Alemania
Epi Quizon
Nonie Buencamino

Cinematography

Pong Ignacio

Edited by

Jerrold Tarog

Production
company

Artikulo Uno Productions

Distributed by

Quantum Films

Release dates

September 9, 2015

Country

Philippines

Language

Filipino, English

Heneral Luna is a Philippine Historical biopic film starring John Arcilla. The film was
directed by Jerrold Tarog. The film revolves around General Antonio Luna.
Contents
[hide]

1 Sypnosis

2 Cast

3 Production

4 Release

5 Critical Reception

6 See also

7 References

8 External links

Sypnosis[edit]
Set during the Philippine-American war, a short-tempered Filipino general faces an
enemy more formidable than theAmerican army: his own treacherous countrymen.
In 1898, General Antonio Luna (John Arcilla), commander of the revolutionary army, is
spoiling for a fight. The Philippines, after three hundred years as a Spanish colony, has
unwillingly come under American rule. General Luna wants to fight for freedom but
members of the elite would rather strike a deal with the United States. The infighting is
fierce in the new cabinet but General Luna and his loyal men forge ahead even as his
military decisions are met with resistance from soldiers who are loyal only to President

Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado). Ultimately, it is the generals legendary temper and pride that
brought him to his death when a pack of presidential guards assassinated him in broad
daylight. While American newspapers are quick to point the blame to Aguinaldo, the
mystery has never been completely solved and the Generals killers were never put to
justice.[1]

Cast[edit]

John Arcilla as Gen. Antonio Luna

Mon Confiado as Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo

Paulo Avelino as Gen. Gregorio "Goyong" Del Pilar

Mylene Dizon as Isabel

Bing Pimentel as Doa Laureana Luna

Epi Quizon as Apolinario Mabini

Aaron Villaflor as Joven Hernando

Archie Alemania Capt. Eduardo Rusca

Joem Bascon as Col. Paco Roman

Alvin Anson as Gen. Jose Alejandrino

Nonie Buencamino as Felipe Buencamino

Alex Medina as Capt. Jose Bernal

Ronnie Lazaro as Lt. Garcia

Ketchup Eusebio as Capt. Janolino

Art Acua as Col. Manuel Bernal

Leo Martinez as Pedro Paterno

Lorenz Martinez as Gen. Tomas Mascardo

Benjamin Alves as Maj. Manuel L. Quezon

Romcel Musa as Gen. Arthur MacArthur Jr.

Production[edit]
The film directed by Jerrold Tarog was made from a script written in 1998 by E.A. Rocha
and Henry Hunt Francia which was based on documentary accounts aboutAntonio
Luna. Francia passed away before the film was released. Tarog in a press conference
admitted that the film took minor creative liberties such as Antonio Luna's usage of the
Filipino curse word of putang ina (son of a bitch) in the film in an effort to connect the
film to the target audience-the Millennials.

Release[edit]
Heneral Luna had a pre-release screenings at selected venues in the United States;
August 30, 2015 in Anthology Film Archives Cinema in New York City and AMC Rio
Cinema in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.; August 31, 2015 in Marina Theater
in San Francisco and Krikorian Monrovia Cinema in Los Angeles,California. The film
was also screened at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates on August 30.[2]
Its general release in the Philippines nationwide is scheduled in September 9, 2015. [2][3]
The film was released with the tagline "Bayan o Sarili" (Country or Self?) [2]

Critical Reception[edit]
Heneral Luna received positive reviews from film critics .
Oggs Cruz from Rappler states that Heneral Luna is A film that is precise in its
storytelling and in its depiction of the major players of the revolution. John Arcilla is
excellent. Tarog makes his character human and creates an essay of everything that
is wrong with our nationhood. Tarogs HENERAL LUNA is fascinating, beautiful to gaze
at, and genuinely affecting. Philbert Ortiz Dy gave the film 5 out of 5 stars , saying
"Beyond its obvious technical achievement, HENERAL LUNA is worth seeing for its
audacious approach to tackling our countrys tragic history. All at once bold, artful, darkly
funny, informed and deeply entertaining, it makes the revolution come alive in
surprising, delightful ways. This film triumphs in capturing the spirit of its subject, the
whole enterprise fueled with a heady mix of rage, irreverence and a genuine love of
country. It is everything that an Antonio Luna biopic should be. Michael Kho Lim
from Daily Tribune also gave a positive review , saying Timely as it is significant. John
Arcilla breathes life to Luna. Complex. Poetic. Gripping.
Heneral Luna received a Grade A from Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines.

See also[edit]