When the news that the movie Heneral Luna will have its run shortened by theaters, many netizens wailed. Some, like myself, made plans to watch the film before it gets pulled out. Others, understandably, criticized the movie-going public's taste in movies. Still others campaigned and encouraged on social media to have more people watch it, sharing images like this:
And memes like this:
And this:
The producers even issued an open letter to ask for support.
And these efforts were successful. Heneral Luna got a new lease on screening life.
All of this revealed that contemporary Filipinos aren't that different from the Filipinos in Antonio Luna's day: majority would rather not get involved, busy as they are with running their own lives. Back then, it was the impending occupation by the Americans; today, a basketful of social and national issues personified on a small scale by this movie. It is this mindset that the movie addressed when John Arcilla's Antonio Luna said,
"Sabihin mo sa ating mga kababayan na hindi nakakamit ang kalayaan sa kanilang pagaaruga sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Kailangan nilang magbayad. Dugo at pawis. Kailangan nilang tumalon sa kawalan.”
(Tell our countrymen that freedom is not achieved by caring for their loved ones. They need to pay. Blood and sweat. They need to jump into the abyss.)
This sentiment is mirrored by Jerald Uy's frustrated post (Sept. 18, 2015) on his FB wall:
About Heneral Luna being pulled out in cinemas:I share these sentiments. if the movie Heneral Luna has taught me anything, it is change only happens if people are willing to change. Even from a meta perspective, how many of those who lamented that Heneral Luna will have its run shortened and criticized the people's choice of movies actually watched this film? A good film will flop if not enough people pay to watch it and sustain its run. Expanding on Jerald Uy's statement, if we, who are supposedly wiser, more intelligent, and more aware, are not willing to give of our time and money to watch and support a very good film like this, one that seeks to offer a higher grade of movie to the Filipino people, how much less are we willing to give to build our nation? And if we are unwilling to lift a finger, our criticism is nothing more than intellectual snobbery at best, and a mind fart at worst.
It's not the theatres' fault.
Running a cinema is not charity. It's business.
If you haven't watched it and you whined they're pulling it out, why didn't you watch it on its first week when support was very crucial?
Whiners.
Yeah, I've watched it. Sana nanood kasi kayo noong unang labas pa lang.
Ang totoong salarin: Mga edukadong tao na 'di naman nanood nito kahit alam na palabas na. Kayo ang pumatay sa pelikulang 'yan.
People have entitlement issues and are ignorant that some films even get "first day, last day" run because there are a lot of empty seats.
The movie opened on Sept. 9 and ran/ is running for more than a week. If you really desired to watch it, you could've set aside 2 hours during that period.
It's like what we both observed the last time Star Wars and LotR was on and then when Rizal and Muro Ami was showing: the "smart Pinoys" would do premieres, buy advanced tickets, queue up for an hour and, after watching it, do all of this again kapag Star Wars and LotR... but not the great movies done by Pinoys.
ReplyDeleteI was so proud when RPG: Metanoia came out... and could not believe that nobody took advantage of the merchandising opportunities for it: games, fiction, and home movies.
Pero ang "My Little Bossings" may mga t-shirt pa.
I wish more Pinoys would actually go out to watch great movies when they come out, and demand that they be put on DVD or Blu-ray... or, better yet, find a way to put it on Google Play or some other online store so that other Pinoys abroad can buy and watch it.
RPG: Metanoia took two years to be released as a DVD. It is sad. But it is up to us who like the better stuff to patronize them and promote them. Social media now makes it easier to start conversations about the better stuff.
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