Bonifacio
Bonifacio
REFLECTION
A sweeping chronicle of the life of Andres Bonifacio, this ambitious biopic skips any
elongated childhood segment (except for a young Andres watching from a crowd the garrote
deaths of the three martyr priests, Fathers Gmez, Burgos and Zamora) and presents to us,
without further ado, an idealistic Filipino who came to be called the "Father of the Philippine
Revolution." Born in November 1863, Bonifacio led the movement called "Katipunan" (where
he was called "Supremo" or supreme leader) and also a founding member of Dr Jos Rizal's
"La Liga Filipina," an organization calling for political reforms from the Spanish colonial
regime.
Without any real dramatic context to appreciate the rivalry between Aguinaldo
and Bonifacio, the film becomes its own version of propaganda. Audiences are force
fed lessons in history through a checklist of events and a long list of pedagogic
speeches, all punchline with the resounding mantra that Bonifacio was not a
traitor. But regardless of its truth, this revelation is handled with such bludgeoning
and suffocating force that it is more mandate than argument. The result is not
about a national hero but about a simple human being trying to do his best for
his country.You see that he is a good brother to his sister whose welfare he is
concerned and in some scenes, you see how guilt-ridden he is as he grapples
with the death of his only son.
For once, the film gives the young people a chance to know a great man from
the pages of history. It is a device that works as it links the present generation to
that crucial decade in Philippine history. Hence, for more than an hour and a
half, you get to reflect on the life of Bonifacio and the other equally heroic
figures in Philippine history such as Melchora Aquino, Jose Rizal and Gregoria de
Jesus and Ladislaw Diwa, among others. On the whole, theres great pleasure
watching a humanized version of Bonifacio and what he did for the Filipinos. The
fate of Bonifacio and his brother is indeed a clear example of revolutions
devouring its own sons and it ends with the viewers having a good idea as to
who are the real heroes and villains of that revolution. Kailan man marami pa
FLA 03
IN
GED SS-03
HISTORICAL FILM HUNT
SUBMIITED BY;
Albia, Michelle
Altoberos,Geraldine
Calo, Jiger
Delacruz, Jopher
Gaddi,Vincent
Gustaman, Teddy Mea
SUBMITTED TO;
Prof. Richelle A. Delmo