MANILA, Philippines - As the historical epic “Heneral Luna” enters its second week, the clamor to keep the film in movie houses has started to heighten on social media.
The film, set during the Filipino-American war in 1898, focuses on Antonio Luna, a short-tempered Filipino general who headed the revolutionary army in a battle for freedom.
Heneral Luna, in its opening week, was screened in 101 cinemas nationwide, but was trimmed down to 41 as of yesterday.
“The major challenge was more of how to market the film. The pullouts were more in the provincial and regional cinemas, while other cinemas in Metro Manila now share with another film,” director Jerrold Tarog told The STAR.
Netizens and celebrities took to social media to encourage the public to watch the film. Here are some of the posts:
Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo)
Watch Heneral Luna before it disappears from theaters, please. Superb. Arcilla, as Luna, is one of the finest performances I’ve ever seen.
Tim Yap (@officialTIMYAP)
Must watch Heneral Luna. One of the best Filipino films I’ve ever seen. Best to see it on the big screen!
Laurenti Dyogi (@direklauren)
Let’s support the movie Heneral Luna! great historical movie. Superb performance of ensemble cast. Kudos to John Arcilla.
Rhian Ramos (@whianwamos)
I learned about history and about myself. Sana mamulat din mata nating lahat sa sakit natin as a country.. #HeneralLuna
Jose Javier Reyes (@direkjoey)
Celebrating the grandeur of Tarog’s HENERAL LUNA as cinema: shattered by the truth in its statement about Filipinos & our leaders.
Lourd de Veyra (@lourddv)
Angal ka nang angal na puro bobong rom-com at kalandian na lang ang mga pelikulang Pinoy sa sinehan. Pero pag meron nang matinong lumalabas, sinusuportahan mo ba?
Actor John Arcilla, who played the role of Luna, told The STAR that what Heneral Luna promotes is “a part of our history that we need to review and learn from.”
The lead character hopes that the biopic will remain longer in cinemas as it tries to cultivate “a lot of reasons to hope for a better Philippines.”
Heneral Luna is showing in 41 cinemas nationwide and offers a 50 percent discount for student viewers. It is the first of a planned trilogy with General Gregorio del Pilar and President Manuel Quezon in the pipeline.