Monday, July 26, 2010

Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio (2010, Mario O’Hara)


Among the films featured at the 6th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, this historical film is one of the most important. A faithful retelling of one of our history’s sourest incidents, in which a hero orders the death of another hero, the film is a lemon juice distilled painfully on Filipinos’ open, gaping wound.

As the film credits roll on, excerpts of various komedya plays are presented. We then see Andres Bonifacio (Alfred Vargas) playing a prince searching for the Ibong Adarna, an elusive bird with healing powers. Among the audience member is his lover, Gregoria de Jesus (Danielle Castaño). The next few scenes show the depth of the couple's love for one another. A bawling Gregoria is briefly detained after the arrest of her husband, Andres Bonifacio.

The trial of Bonifacio is dragging in most parts. The repeated questioning of the prisoners takes its toll on viewers' patience. Director O'Hara should have shortened the segment by showing successively similar responses to a single question. Limited budget obviously played a role in his inability to reconstruct the events narrated by the witnesses. The theatrical elements of the trial are a perfect fit for the moro-moro proceedings. At the start of the trial, the inept lawyer tasked to defend Bonifacio is already asking for forgiveness for his client's wrongdoings.

Angelina Kanapi steals the film with her portrayal of the Ibong Adarna and narrator. Instead of lulling the viewers to sleep, she is the one that energizes the whole film with her strong screen presence. Donning a semi-kalbo haircut and made up in white make-up, she eerily recalls Death in Ingmar Bergman's Seventh Seal. When she wears a red and yellow dress and performs a dance, I can't help but see it as a dance of death by Spain. The colonizing country can then be seen as the one responsible for Andres Bonifacio's death.

I love the music score for this film. The hymn Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan was played in the background during the execution of Bonifacio. The lyrics refer to the fight against the Spaniards. Again, the film seems to suggest that Spain was responsible for the death of Bonifacio. The lovely kundiman Jocelynang Baliwag was given prominence in the early part of the film. It was the song sung by Gregoria and the captured soldiers of the Magdiwang faction. In the guise of a courtship song, the lyrics pertain to love for the motherland. Another song that serves as an outlet for nationalism is the song Sa Dalampasigan. It pays tribute to martyrs who served as inspiration of the Philippine Revolution.

It’s always a pleasure seeing O’Hara conjure wildly creative films like Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio. Marvel at how he showed the horrors, the bombings, and the killings during the revolution using minimal money. Heck, save for the interminable trial scenes, I was mesmerized with the film’s inventiveness and Filipino-ness. The band playing komedya music; poem readings; the folk dance pandanggo sa ilaw; all these things, and more, magically transported me to the late 19th century Philippines. O’Hara’s film reminds me of Raya Martin’s A Short Film About Indio Nacional. The latter is similarly structured in framing the revolution within the popular mediums of entertainment in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Even though Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio failed to received an award from the five-man jury at Cinemalaya 2010, it is a must-see film for Filipinos. It may spur them, as I did, to learn more about our heroes and history. If you’d enjoyed the film, then you’ll probably relish O’Hara’s offbeat masterpiece Sisa. A film that can only come from the wonderful imaginings of the veteran director, the movie suggests Sisa is the voluptuous morena lover of Jose Rizal.

8 comments:

  1. The most wonderful point about the film, for me, is its basic premise that the trial of Bonifacio was a "moro-moro," a point Mario O'Hara keeps repeating throughout, from having Bonifacio's band play the moros in the komedya against Aguinaldo's christian army, even suddenly transporting the trial momentarily to the moro-moro stage. The most surprising i have discovered since is that many people do not know and therefore cannot see that the Komedya was (and still is, in many areas) known as the moro-moro, therfore missing out on this connection.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mario O’Hara’s framing of the kangaroo court proceedings within the komedya is pure genius. It’s a pity that the moro-moro element just went over the heads of some viewers. Maybe they were not exposed to komedya plays. I was fortunate to see the reintroduction of the komedya to the UP community in 2008. What I loved most in those plays were accurately transposed to the film. The lively march music, the delightfully choreographed sword fights, and colorful costumes are a joy to see in a film.

    I remember seeing you, Mario O’Hara, Paolo O’Hara, Angelina Kanapi, Angeli Bayani, and Che Ramos at the Tanghalang Pilipino’s wonderful Tatlong Maria but I never imagine seeing you all at the Cinemalaya 2010. I look forward to more incursions by theatre people to Cinemalaya/independent film productions. Along with regional filmmakers, theatre people imbue the independent film scene with their passion and creativity. Mabuhay po ang teatrong Pilipino!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Theater people making incursions into film have been a longstanding trend--O'Hara, Brocka among others have done this; in Hollywood Orson Welles is the most prominent name to come to mind, though there are of course others: David Mamet, Stuart Gordon, and so on.

    ReplyDelete
  4. September 27, 2010


    Andres Bonifacio Site
    Maragondon, Cavite
    Philippines


    Subject: PROJECT NAME: ANDRES BONIFACIO DAY – November 30, 2010

    One of those meticulous and tedious tasks that have a great valuable of importance to contribute to one of the Philippines National Hero is to put in chronicles his work accomplishments and the time of his last days. Andres Bonifacio’s forth-bearing trial and decision that caused his sudden pitiful death still lingers from the word of the local narrator in the original house where he was judged. Many visitors come and visit this place every year, especially during the month of November because the house is considered a landmark and a part of our historical heritage of Philippines inclusive assets. For many years of its existence, the place of tribute to our National Hero remains as usual with a distinctive room depicted by life-sized human statue symbolizing the people who were present at the room during his trial.
    In preparation for his up-coming natal day, there are some suggestions that I think might worth looking into: (Subject to approval)

    1. Stage a role play showing with words and actions the trial of Andres Bonifacio’s on a weekend (and every weekend), slotted several hours of the day.
    2. Invite local High School Faculty in the community and their young aspiring artist to prepare and narrate a play of this historical mesmerizing event through the audience of visitors coming to see the landmark this year.
    3. Repeat the same activities in the forth-coming years, with different generations of casting to do the same stage play. This will give others opportunity to show their individual talent.
    4. Add some variety of media that will remember their visit. For example:
    a. Souvenirs of key chain, hut, T-shirt, Books, CD’s, flags, postcards, banner, etc…
    b. Photo-shoot with picturesque made frames of characters.

    With an exclusive right and private setting that domiciles the business operation of this landmark place it is subsidized by the government and public through grants and voluntary donation of visitors to maintain its common, but very important existence. Any foreseeable presentation and/or promotion such as this do not entail any lucrative profitable revenue for everyone, although there is a potential, but the most valuable return in every aspect and structure of this project planning is the self-assertiveness that we should always realized to give our full support and unceasing contributions for the glory of all our National Heroes.
    Are you willing to help to provide the initial resources for the cause?


    Sincerely


    Nilo Angue - Founder
    anguenilo@yahoo.com 0-939-513-9007
    Bayang Pilipinas Foundation
    Las Vegas, Nevada Chapter

    ReplyDelete
  5. September 27, 2010


    Andres Bonifacio Site
    Maragondon, Cavite
    Philippines


    Subject: PROJECT NAME: ANDRES BONIFACIO DAY – November 30, 2010

    One of those meticulous and tedious tasks that have a great valuable of importance to contribute to one of the Philippines National Hero is to put in chronicles his work accomplishments and the time of his last days. Andres Bonifacio’s forth-bearing trial and decision that caused his sudden pitiful death still lingers from the word of the local narrator in the original house where he was judged. Many visitors come and visit this place every year, especially during the month of November because the house is considered a landmark and a part of our historical heritage of Philippines inclusive assets. For many years of its existence, the place of tribute to our National Hero remains as usual with a distinctive room depicted by life-sized human statue symbolizing the people who were present at the room during his trial.
    In preparation for his up-coming natal day, there are some suggestions that I think might worth looking into: (Subject to approval)

    1. Stage a role play showing with words and actions the trial of Andres Bonifacio’s on a weekend (and every weekend), slotted several hours of the day.
    2. Invite local High School Faculty in the community and their young aspiring artist to prepare and narrate a play of this historical mesmerizing event through the audience of visitors coming to see the landmark this year.
    3. Repeat the same activities in the forth-coming years, with different generations of casting to do the same stage play. This will give others opportunity to show their individual talent.
    4. Add some variety of media that will remember their visit. For example:
    a. Souvenirs of key chain, hut, T-shirt, Books, CD’s, flags, postcards, banner, etc…
    b. Photo-shoot with picturesque made frames of characters.

    With an exclusive right and private setting that domiciles the business operation of this landmark place it is subsidized by the government and public through grants and voluntary donation of visitors to maintain its common, but very important existence. Any foreseeable presentation and/or promotion such as this do not entail any lucrative profitable revenue for everyone, although there is a potential, but the most valuable return in every aspect and structure of this project planning is the self-assertiveness that we should always realized to give our full support and unceasing contributions for the glory of all our National Heroes.
    Are you willing to help to provide the initial resources for the cause?


    Sincerely


    Nilo Angue - Founder
    Bayang Pilipinas Foundation
    Las Vegas, Nevada Chapter

    ReplyDelete
  6. My comment is too large to fit...can you click the link.
    http://bayangpilipinasfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/09/andres-bonifacio-day-november-30-2010.html

    ReplyDelete
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