Althea Libranda Sapad

BSED SS-1A

MULTIMODAL TEXT ANALYSIS:

I. MULTIMODAL TEXT TYPE:

Digital: Film

Reference: www.google.image

II. INTRODUCTION

Heneral Luna is a heartwarming yet an empowering movie that portrays the life of General
Antonio Luna during the Philippine – American War. The movie is undoubtedly a masterpiece
that illustrates how power, in terms of political circumstances, affects our history and the whole
Filipino citizens. This historical-biographical film is released last September 9, 2015 under
Artikulo Uno Productions and is directed by Jerrold Tarog, a film director, screenwriter,
composer, editor, and producer, who is in the film industry since the year 2000’s. The film,
Heneral Luna, portrays patriotism in the Philippines in a way that Heneral Luna, himself, did not
quit in fighting for the Philippines’ freedom up until his last breath even if other high-ranked
government officials is against his governorship and were starting to betray the country.

The film Heneral Luna is an eye-opener to every Filipino that change and freedom should
not be for our own selves only, instead, it should be for the whole country, and also an eye-opener
about how the film industry in the Philippines should be given a high recognition because the
Philippines can produce films that can keep up to other countries’ films.

III. SUMMARY

The film Heneral Luna shows the Philippines’ situation after the end of the Spain’s
colonization in 1898. The cabinet members, together with President Aguinaldo, General Luna,
and Prime Minister Apolinario Mabini, debated whether to be allied or to drive the American
Forces away that will soon enter the country. General Luna is against the alliance between the
Americans because he believed that there is a hidden agenda about the Americans going in the
country and that the Filipino citizens should not be slaves to their own country. He shouted “Para
kayong mga birhen na naniniwala sa pag-ibig ng isang puta!” because of his disappointment to
the members of the meeting. Finally, a news was received during the meeting that Manila has
fallen in the American’s arms, making the President decide that General Luna should take charge
in strengthening the military forces of the country.

The battle against the Americans started and General Luna seek for help from the battalion
in Kawit, Cavite, but the commander refuses because it is not an order from the President.
Because of anger, General Luna embarrasses the commander, Captain Janolino, and started to
create an army imposing his “Artikulo Uno”. After creating the army. General Luna observed that
there are only few people who are willing to fight for the country, and one of them is Lieutenant
 Garcia, who became qualified to be one of the sharpshooters after showing his bravery when
General Luna asked for a volunteer to frighten an American.

After an argument in the cabinet meeting because of the support being shown by the
Ilustrados, Buencamino and Paterno for Philippine autonomy as a territory of the United States,
the two are being arrested because General Luna believes that they are cowards and traitors in the
country. Because of this betrayal, General Luna concluded that we have a bigger enemy than the
Americans, and it is ourselves.

As General Luna started to accumulate more troops for the preparation against the
Americans, General Mascardo, refuses to take orders from him because General Mascardo
believes that General Luna does not have authority over him. Their argument through telegram
arises making them almost confront in Guagua, Pampanga, but President Aguinaldo's order
arrived. While the two are in a heated argument, the Americans attacked Bagbag and Quingua
that made General Luna and the army immediately go to Bagbag.

General Luna wanted to resign as head of the Army because he heard that Buencamino and
Paterno have been set free. President Aguinaldo rejected his resignation because together with
Prime Minister Mabini, they believed that he is the only one who is capable to lead the army.
General Luna said that the only way that they can defeat the Americans is to erect a fortress in the
North, so the president agreed to it.

After some time, General Luna received a telegram from the headquarters of the president
in Cabanatuan, and although it is suspicious, General Luna went to the headquarters with Roman
and Rusca. After getting there, he discovered that Aguinaldo is not there and Buencamino is the
only one in the office. An argument between them started and a gunfire outside the office was
heard. He went outside and discoved that Captain Janolino and his troops are there, and attacked
him. General Luna and Roman was killed while Rusca is wounded. Buencamino said that he has
no involvement in General Luna's death. Moreover the Americans published in their newspaper
that President Aguinaldo is the one behind the killings of General Luna, but he denied sending a
telegram to General Luna. The Americans find the Philippines shameful because one of these
Americans said that "You killed the only general you have.", pertaining to General Luna. Joven
Hernando, the interviewer, leaves a remarking question saying that why should Filipinos kill
fellow Filipinos, it is also the same as killing the freedom of the Philippines. Finally, he reminisce
all the messages that General Luna taught him about how Filipinos should fight for the country.

IV. ANALYSIS

o SCENARIO

The beginning of the film Heneral Luna is not like many other films that easily starts
showing the main course of the film, instead, it shows an interviewer named Joven Hernando,
who is a part of a publication that wants to continue the legacy of La Independencia, and
features the life of General Antonio Luna for the first article. The fictious character, Joven
Hernando, became an interesting way to answer the questions of this generation to what
happened in the past. Joven Hernando’s character became the generation’s representative to
dig deeper in the past by being actually there in the situation.

Heneral Luna shows the reality of the past and as what I have observed in the present times.
The reality of the past has been carried out until the present. The film shows how politicians
and certain people with high positions used their names, positions, and power to bend the
rules in their favor. General Luna once said that "Walang nakakaangat sa batas, kahit ang
presidente.", but just like before, only few people are willing to fight and love the country,
thus, many people are still taking advantage to their power and positions.

o DIRECTING

The execution of each scenario and the tasks of each actors are performed well and it is
believed that the director is the one responsible for it. Jerrold Tarog, the Heneral Luna’s
director has been in the film industry since the 2000’s. Upon researching. I discovered that
 aside from taking film classes at the University of the Philippines Film Center, he is
interested in classic films making his expertise in filmmaking as “self-taught.” He is already
exposed in the film industry and already experienced to be a director, screenwriter, producer,
composer, and editor, before Heneral Luna. Because of these, his experiences and
involvements to different films contributes to how Heneral Luna should be portrayed as a
work of fiction based on facts. Moreover, in the beginning of the film, it is said that “While
historical accuracy is important, there are bigger truths about the Filipino nation that can only
be reached by combining the real and the imaginary.”, and just like what Jerrold Tarog has
said, he achieved in combining the real and the imaginary by aligning the plots and
characters, and by giving life to the summarized stories of our history textbooks. The film
gathered admiration for how it is written and how it is being acted, thus the directing of the
film is effective.

o ACTING

The way that the actors portray their character is undeniably exceptional because each
scene is spontaneous, especially when there is an argument happening in the scene. The way
John Arcilla, the one who portrays General Luna, throw his lines and show his expressions,
will make everyone agree to what he is saying because of the convincing acting that he
showed. If there is an on-going argument in the scene, the viewer will be carried away
because it is like he or she is watching a live fight that has sense. Moreover, if there is a battle
between the Americans and the Philippine army, and someone is being shot, the acting and
execution of laying down on the ground will convince the viewer that it is true. The casts of
the film embodies their role that resulted to produce each scene realistic. Because of the great
acts, it can be clearly distinguished to the characters whether they really want freedom and
change for their own benefit or for the country’s benefit. The effort in every actors in
performing their role is evident because the whole film went smoothly.

o MUSICAL ELEMENTS

Since the director of Heneral Luna, Jerrold Tarog, has a degree in music composition in
the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Music, it surely helped a lot for him to
produce a good music that reflects the overall film. After researching. I discovered that he
composed the film score and he got inspiration from Russian classical composers. From
being the director, up to being the composer, it is obvious that he is really passionate about
the things that he do. He is an inspiration that the Philippines’ film industry can produce big
films and can keep up to other countries as long as passion and dedication take place.

o VISUAL ELEMENTS

The visual elements shown in Heneral Luna really bring the viewers to the past. The
location of the scenarios were really just like how the houses, offices, and set-ups were built
in the past decades. Moreover, the costumes of the generals, armies, women, and other casts
are shown just like how the people from the past wear clothes. Everything about the film is
based on the lifestyle of the past era making the entire film let the viewers feel that it is
actually what happens during the Philippine-American War. Additionally, I read an article
saying that John Arcilla who played as General Luna grew his moustache just to have a
similar moustache with General Luna, and Mon Confiado lost weight for his role as President
Aguinaldo and even looked a barber that can imitate Former President Aguinaldo’s haircut.
This only proves how passionate the actors to play their role effectively. Regarding the make-
ups and prosthetics, it looks real, especially every time someone is being shot in the scenario:
the way the wound appears is realistic means that even the smallest detail in the film was
recognized. The special effects as well is close to being real because the way it is edited is not
evident while watching and it really blends in the scenario. In the research done, I also
discovered that Jerrold Tarog was really paying attention in each angle. timing, and gun shots
in the film. This proves, once again, that the Philippines can do better in terms of film
making.

V. CONCLUSION

The film Heneral Luna is an eye-opener to every Filipino that change and freedom should not
be for our own selves only, instead, it should be for the whole country, and also an eye-opener
about how the film industry in the Philippines should be given a high recognition because the
Philippines can produce films that can keep up to other countries’ films. This film does not just
show us who we were in the past, but also shows us who we should be in the present. Heneral
Luna is not just a story to tell, it is a history to embody. We should keep in our mind all the
patriotism that General Luna has shared to us, we should not be slaves of our country nor our
government officials. We should stand for what is right, not just for ourselves, but the whole
country. Moreover, Heneral Luna is a proof that artists should not be degraded because artists
does not just express themselves, they also stand a point through art which really makes a
difference and can go somewhere higher. Jerrold Tarog, an artist, and the director of Heneral
Luna proves that art can really make a difference, reach a lot of audience, and can teach a lot of
people about who we were and who we should be, may it be in the film industry or in our
perspective regarding the freedom and change of our country.